Consolidated Statements Of Income And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other operating revenues	$ 758,054		$ 767,802		$ 1,493,642		$ 1,852,199
Costs and Expenses
Cost of goods sold	610,482		628,495		1,205,459		1,522,112
Selling, general and administrative expenses	53,539		66,468		177,125		201,542
Other income	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	(81,619)	[1]
Restructuring costs	1,143	[2]	3,400	[2]	4,493	[2]	4,708	[2]
Operating income	92,890		69,439		106,565		205,456
Equity in pretax earnings (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates	(527)	[3]	1,789	[3]	3,391	[3]	1,755	[3]
Interest income	148		344		358		748
Interest expense	4,637		5,157		13,509		16,623
Income before income taxes	87,874		66,415		96,805		191,336
Income tax expense	29,797		22,212		22,719		63,390
Net income	58,077		44,203		74,086		127,946
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(5,038)		(5,618)		(5,305)		(5,608)
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	53,039		38,585		68,781		122,338
Dividends on Universal Corporation convertible perpetual preferred stock	(3,712)		(3,712)		(11,137)		(11,137)
Cost in excess of carrying value on repurchase of convertible perpetual stock	(18)		0		(18)		0
Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders	49,309		34,873		57,626		111,201
Earnings per share attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders:
Basic	$ 2.13		$ 1.50		$ 2.49		$ 4.78
Diluted	$ 1.87		$ 1.36		$ 2.43		$ 4.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	23,095,861		23,216,145		23,165,553		23,246,396
Diluted	28,291,017		28,364,412		28,339,431		28,388,537
Total comprehensive income:
Total comprehensive income, net of income taxes	54,965		46,387		61,268		162,828
Less: comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income taxes	(5,093)		(5,432)		(5,323)		(5,085)
Comprehensive income attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes	$ 49,872		$ 40,955		$ 55,945		$ 157,743
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.52		$ 0.51		$ 1.54		$ 1.51

[1] Other income represents the gain on the favorable outcome of the IPI tax credit case in Brazil. This item is excluded from segment operating income, but is included in consolidated operating income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

[2] Restructuring costs are excluded from segment operating income, but are included in consolidated operating income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

[3] Equity in pretax (earnings) loss of unconsolidated affiliates is included in segment operating income (Other Tobacco Operations segment), but is reported below consolidated operating income and excluded from that total in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.