Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.19.3.a.u2
Debt - Narrative (Details)
£ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2019
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2014
GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Finance lease liability $ 3,495,000 $ 3,631,000 $ 3,495,000   $ 3,631,000      
Other debt   395,000     395,000      
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax 499,000 3,320,000 11,106,000 $ (12,577,000)        
Foreign currency translation adjustment, tax 162,000 1,077,000            
Other current assets 56,453,000 49,384,000 56,453,000   49,384,000      
Designated as Hedging Instrument                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, before tax     (149,000)   (534,000)      
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax     (112,000)   (403,000)      
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months 118,000   118,000          
Senior Notes                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Unamortized debt costs $ 3,150,000 3,284,000 $ 3,150,000   3,284,000      
Senior Notes | Matthews Europe GmbH & Co. KG                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 1.40%   1.40% 1.40%   1.40%    
Debt issued amount $ 16,533,000   $ 16,533,000     € 15,000,000.0    
Senior Notes 2025 | Senior Notes                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Debt issued amount $ 300,000,000   $ 300,000,000          
Fixed interest rate (as a percent) 5.25%   5.25%     5.25%    
Securitization Facility                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 115,000,000   $ 115,000,000          
Outstanding borrowings $ 106,720,000 93,950,000 $ 106,720,000   93,950,000      
Interest rate on facility (as a percent) 2.51%   2.51% 3.25%   2.51%    
Securitization Facility | Minimum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Commitment fee (as a percent)     0.25%          
Securitization Facility | Maximum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Commitment fee (as a percent)     0.35%          
Securitization Facility | LIBOR                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent)     0.75%          
Other Debt                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent)       5.54%        
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate during period (as a percent)     1.50%          
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR | Minimum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent)     0.75%          
Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR | Maximum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent)     2.00%          
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 900,000,000   $ 900,000,000          
Maximum borrowing amount drawn In foreign currency 150,000,000   $ 150,000,000          
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment | Minimum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion (as a percent)     0.15%          
Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment | Maximum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion (as a percent)     0.25%          
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 250,000,000   $ 250,000,000          
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 1 (as a percent) 5.00%   5.00%     5.00%    
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 2 (as a percent) 7.50%   7.50%     7.50%    
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 3 (as a percent) 10.00%   10.00%     10.00%    
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 4 (as a percent) 10.00%   10.00%     10.00%    
Long term debt outstanding principal payment in year 5 (as a percent) 10.00%   10.00%     10.00%    
Outstanding borrowings $ 47,287,000 53,497,000 $ 47,287,000   53,497,000      
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate during period (as a percent)     1.50%          
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR | Minimum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent)     0.75%          
Term Loan | April 2016 Debt Amendment | LIBOR | Maximum                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent)     2.00%          
Domestic Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum available for issuance of trade and standby letters of credit $ 35,000,000   $ 35,000,000          
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.60%   2.60% 3.06%   2.60%    
Foreign Line of Credit | Credit Facility With European Bank                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 39,258,000   $ 39,258,000     € 35,000,000.0    
Outstanding borrowings $ 20,680,000 14,024,000 $ 20,680,000   14,024,000 € 18,400,000 € 12,800,000  
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 1.25%   1.25%     1.25%    
Letter of Credit                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Other current assets $ 11,301,000   $ 11,301,000         £ 8,570
United States of America, Dollars | Domestic Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Outstanding borrowings 351,689,000 325,638,000 351,689,000   325,638,000      
Euro Member Countries, Euro | Domestic Revolving Credit Facility | April 2016 Debt Amendment                
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                
Outstanding borrowings $ 140,206,000 $ 136,470,000 $ 140,206,000   $ 136,470,000 € 125,000,000.0 € 125,000,000.0