Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Paid-in Capital	Treasury Stock	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Total EnerSys Stockholders' Equity	Non- redeemable Non- controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2010	$ 784,224	$ 504	$ 428,579	$ (19,800)	$ 303,410	$ 67,204	$ 779,897	$ 4,327
Stock-based compensation	9,056		9,056				9,056
Exercise of stock options	17,894	14	17,880				17,894
Tax benefit from stock options	6,082		6,082				6,082
Net earnings (excludes $ 1429 in 2013 and $170 in 2012 of losses attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests)	113,426				113,426		113,426
Other comprehensive income:
Pension funded status adjustment, (net of tax benefit expense of $1,195 in 2013, $1,841 in 2012 and $794 in 2011)	1,967					1,967	1,967
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments (net of tax benefit expense of $1,134 in 2013, $1,909 in 2012 and $5,251 in 2011)	9,470					9,470	9,470
Foreign currency translation adjustment (excludes $1,159 in 2013 and $36 in 2012 related to redeemable noncontrolling interests)	36,874					36,539	36,539	335
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	978,993	518	461,597	(19,800)	416,836	115,180	974,331	4,662
Stock-based compensation	11,585		11,585				11,585
Exercise of stock options	974	4	970				974
Tax benefit from stock options	1,772		1,772				1,772
Purchase of common stock	(58,383)			(58,383)			(58,383)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(1,000)		(1,000)				(1,000)
Noncontrolling interests attributable to the consolidation of fiscal 2012 acquisitions	4,020							4,020
Net earnings (excludes $ 1429 in 2013 and $170 in 2012 of losses attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests)	144,137				144,003		144,003	134
Other comprehensive income:
Pension funded status adjustment, (net of tax benefit expense of $1,195 in 2013, $1,841 in 2012 and $794 in 2011)	(5,470)					(5,470)	(5,470)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments (net of tax benefit expense of $1,134 in 2013, $1,909 in 2012 and $5,251 in 2011)	(3,261)					(3,261)	(3,261)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (excludes $1,159 in 2013 and $36 in 2012 related to redeemable noncontrolling interests)	(32,552)					(32,356)	(32,356)	(196)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	1,040,815	522	474,924	(78,183)	560,839	74,093	1,032,195	8,620
Stock-based compensation	14,737		14,737				14,737
Exercise of stock options	10,033	7	10,026				10,033
Tax benefit from stock options	1,351		1,351				1,351
Purchase of common stock	(22,593)			(22,593)			(22,593)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(2,131)		608				608	(2,739)
Proceeds from noncontrolling interests	613							613
Net earnings (excludes $ 1429 in 2013 and $170 in 2012 of losses attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests)	166,387				166,508		166,508	(121)
Other comprehensive income:
Pension funded status adjustment, (net of tax benefit expense of $1,195 in 2013, $1,841 in 2012 and $794 in 2011)	(4,187)					(4,187)	(4,187)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments (net of tax benefit expense of $1,134 in 2013, $1,909 in 2012 and $5,251 in 2011)	(2,007)					(2,007)	(2,007)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (excludes $1,159 in 2013 and $36 in 2012 related to redeemable noncontrolling interests)	(27,735)					(27,244)	(27,244)	(491)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 1,175,283	$ 529	$ 501,646	$ (100,776)	$ 727,347	$ 40,655	$ 1,169,401	$ 5,882