CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Sales	$ 898,821	$ 821,829	$ 780,908
Cost of sales	(547,161)	(498,442)	(486,131)
Gross profit	351,660	323,387	294,777
Selling expense	(99,251)	(91,215)	(83,576)
Administrative expense	(133,893)	(115,591)	(110,190)
Operating profit	118,516	116,581	101,011
Investment income	1,443	2,536	2,048
Interest expense	(8,241)	(7,419)	(12,053)
Other income (deductions), net	298	(1,285)	(12)
Income before income taxes	112,016	110,413	90,994
Income taxes	(38,556)	(38,639)	(31,313)
Net income	73,460	71,774	59,681
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,088)	(2,717)	(1,949)
Net income attributable to Matthews shareholders	$ 72,372	$ 69,057	$ 57,732
Earnings per share attributable to Matthews shareholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.47	$ 2.32	$ 1.91
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.46	$ 2.31	$ 1.90