Consolidated Statements Of Income And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other operating revenues	$ 680,029		$ 672,420		$ 1,816,607		$ 1,792,911
Costs and Expenses
Cost of goods sold	554,588		525,315		1,461,087		1,432,022
Selling, general and administrative expenses	60,928		64,747		169,406		183,985
Other income	0	[1]	(11,111)	[1]	0	[1]	(20,703)	[1]
Restructuring costs	0	[1]	399	[1]	3,687	[1]	10,220	[1]
Charge for European Commission fine in Italy	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	49,091	[1]
Operating income	64,513		93,070		182,427		138,296
Equity in pretax earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	(1,241)	[2]	1,072	[2]	(192)	[2]	(2,264)	[2]
Interest income	183		519		410		1,240
Interest expense	5,670		6,175		17,778		17,373
Income before income taxes and other items	57,785		88,486		164,867		119,899
Income taxes	18,070		26,884		50,633		48,972
Net income	39,715		61,602		114,234		70,927
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(4,173)		(3,149)		(7,586)		(4,625)
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	35,542		58,453		106,648		66,302
Dividends on Universal Corporation convertible perpetual preferred stock	(3,712)		(3,712)		(11,137)		(11,137)
Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders	31,830		54,741		95,511		55,165
Earnings per share attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders:
Basic	$ 1.36		$ 2.36		$ 4.09		$ 2.38
Diluted	$ 1.25		$ 2.06		$ 3.75		$ 2.34
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	23,406		23,238		23,361		23,220
Diluted	28,517		28,381		28,470		28,309
Total comprehensive income:
Total comprehensive income, net of income taxes	48,424		55,477		121,582		56,725
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income taxes	(4,274)		(3,097)		(7,878)		(4,527)
Comprehensive income attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes	$ 44,150		$ 52,380		$ 113,704		$ 52,198
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.50		$ 0.49		$ 1.48		$ 1.45

[1] Item is not included in segment operating income, but is included in consolidated operating income.

[2] Item is included in segment operating income, but is not included in consolidated operating income.