Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Debt - Narrative (Details)

v3.20.1
Debt - Narrative (Details)
£ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2020
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2020
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2019
EUR (€)
Sep. 30, 2014
GBP (£)
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Finance lease liability $ 5,248,000 $ 3,631,000 $ 5,248,000       $ 5,248,000 $ 3,631,000      
Other debt   395,000           395,000      
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax 2,528,000 3,320,000 (30,647,000) $ 11,106,000 $ 153,000 $ (12,577,000)          
Foreign currency translation adjustment, tax 820,000 1,077,000                  
Other current assets 72,093,000 49,384,000 72,093,000       72,093,000 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             (6,032,000) (534,000)      
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of interest rate swaps, after tax             (4,554,000) (403,000)      
Unrealized gain (loss) expected to be recognized over the next 12 months (2,129,000)   (2,129,000)       (2,129,000)        
Senior Notes                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Unamortized debt costs $ 3,014,000 3,284,000 $ 3,014,000       $ 3,014,000 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 $ 16,376,000   $ 16,376,000       $ 16,376,000   € 15,000,000.0    
March 2020 Debt Amendment                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Unamortized debt costs 2,000,000   2,000,000       2,000,000        
Senior Notes 2025 | Senior Notes                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Debt issued amount $ 300,000,000   $ 300,000,000       $ 300,000,000        
Fixed interest rate (as a percent) 5.25%   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       $ 115,000,000        
Outstanding borrowings $ 103,190,000 93,950,000 $ 103,190,000       $ 103,190,000 93,950,000      
Interest rate on facility (as a percent) 1.74%   1.74%   3.24%   1.74%   1.74%    
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)         5.50%            
Revolving Credit Facility | March 2020 Debt Amendment                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 750,000,000   $ 750,000,000       $ 750,000,000        
Maximum borrowing amount drawn In foreign currency 350,000,000   350,000,000       $ 350,000,000        
Revolving Credit Facility | March 2020 Debt Amendment | Minimum                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion (as a percent)             0.15%        
Revolving Credit Facility | March 2020 Debt Amendment | Maximum                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Annual commitment fee range on unused portion (as a percent)             0.30%        
Term Loan | March 2020 Debt Amendment                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Maximum amount of borrowings available 35,000,000   35,000,000       $ 35,000,000        
Outstanding borrowings 34,766,000 53,497,000 34,766,000       $ 34,766,000 53,497,000      
Term Loan | March 2020 Debt Amendment | LIBOR                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Interest rate during period (as a percent)             1.50%        
Term Loan | March 2020 Debt Amendment | LIBOR | Minimum                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent)             0.75%        
Term Loan | March 2020 Debt Amendment | LIBOR | Maximum                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Interest rate on borrowings (as a percent)             2.00%        
Domestic Revolving Credit Facility | March 2020 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       $ 35,000,000        
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 2.40%   2.40%   3.25%   2.40%   2.40%    
Foreign Line of Credit | Credit Facility With European Bank                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Maximum amount of borrowings available $ 38,505,000   $ 38,505,000       $ 38,505,000   € 35,000,000.0    
Outstanding borrowings $ 15,622,000 14,024,000 $ 15,622,000       $ 15,622,000 14,024,000 € 14,200,000 € 12,800,000  
Weighted-average interest rate on outstanding borrowings (as a percent) 1.25%   1.25%   1.25%   1.25%   1.25%    
Letter of Credit                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Other current assets $ 10,607,000   $ 10,607,000       $ 10,607,000       £ 8,570
United States of America, Dollars | Domestic Revolving Credit Facility | March 2020 Debt Amendment                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Outstanding borrowings 372,500,000 325,638,000 372,500,000       372,500,000 325,638,000      
Euro Member Countries, Euro | Domestic Revolving Credit Facility | March 2020 Debt Amendment                      
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]                      
Outstanding borrowings $ 137,519,000 $ 136,470,000 $ 137,519,000       $ 137,519,000 $ 136,470,000 € 125,000,000.0 € 125,000,000.0