UNAUDITED SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA: (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
UNAUDITED SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA:
Revenue	$ 287,255,000	$ 280,893,000	$ 286,432,000	$ 276,044,000	$ 287,226,000	$ 287,905,000	$ 279,445,000	$ 259,179,000	$ 1,130,624,000	$ 1,113,755,000	$ 1,063,598,000
Gross profit	71,845,000	65,425,000	67,320,000	56,240,000	71,608,000	69,431,000	63,174,000	56,379,000
Income (loss) from operations	22,290,000	15,518,000	27,051,000	20,704,000	(54,301,000)	33,842,000	24,998,000	20,638,000	85,563,000	25,177,000	97,542,000
Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	31,031,000	814,000	1,138,000	916,000	705,000	441,000	1,387,000	863,000	33,899,000	3,396,000	732,000
Net earnings (loss)	45,873,000	2,651,000	12,977,000	10,015,000	(70,989,000)	20,414,000	12,697,000	9,436,000	37,617,000	(31,838,000)	43,427,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Acxiom	46,066,000	7,930,000	12,292,000	10,975,000	(67,056,000)	20,823,000	13,281,000	9,805,000	77,263,000	(23,147,000)	44,549,000
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.02	$ 0.15	$ 0.11	$ (0.89)	$ 0.25	$ 0.14	$ 0.11	$ 0.47	$ (0.40)	$ 0.55
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.02	$ 0.01	$ 0.43	$ 0.04	$ 0.01
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.10	$ 0.15	$ 0.14	$ (0.83)	$ 0.26	$ 0.17	$ 0.12	$ 0.97	$ (0.29)	$ 0.56
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.02	$ 0.15	$ 0.11	$ (0.89)	$ 0.24	$ 0.14	$ 0.11	$ 0.47	$ (0.40)	$ 0.54
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.02	$ 0.01	$ 0.42	$ 0.04	$ 0.01
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Acxiom stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.10	$ 0.15	$ 0.13	$ (0.83)	$ 0.25	$ 0.16	$ 0.12	$ 0.96	$ (0.29)	$ 0.56
Statement
Impairment of goodwill and other intangibles		17,800,000			79,700,000				17,803,000	79,674,000
Gains, losses and other items, net					8,200,000				12,638,000	4,600,000	(944,000)
Impairment of investment					1,600,000
Reduction in reserve for unrecognized tax benefits due to the expiration of the related statute of limitations						3,500,000			94,000	3,460,000
Brazil operation
Statement
Impairment of goodwill and other intangibles		17,800,000
Earnout liability		0	2,600,000
MENA subsidiary
Statement
Loss on disposal of subsidiary									3,400,000
Gains, losses and other items, net
Statement
Loss on disposal			(2,500,000)
Restructuring charges					5,500,000
Reduction of an earnout liability					600,000				2,598,000	1,058,000
Gains, losses and other items, net	12,600,000					(3,600,000)
Gains, losses and other items, net | Netherlands and Portugal operations
Statement
Loss on disposal					(3,300,000)
Restructuring charges					5,500,000
Gains, losses and other items, net | MENA subsidiary
Statement
Loss on disposal of subsidiary									2,505,000
Noncontrolling interest | MENA subsidiary
Statement
Loss on disposal of subsidiary			$ 900,000						$ 900,000