Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 772,953	$ 668,008	$ 1,518,048	$ 1,312,674
Cost of sales	654,339	537,084	1,282,784	1,067,032
Gross profit	118,614	130,924	235,264	245,642
Selling and administrative expenses	96,140	99,400	198,877	195,416
Restructuring and impairments, net	1,281	5,239	1,577	13,444
Operating income	21,193	26,285	34,810	36,782
Other expense (income), net	5,751	(8,953)	5,870	1,368
Interest expense, net	18,074	15,161	35,735	30,144
(Loss) income before income taxes	(2,632)	20,077	(6,795)	5,270
Income tax provision (benefit)	995	1,988	2,628	(3,813)
Net (loss) income	(3,627)	18,089	(9,423)	9,083
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(39)	132	(643)	170
Net (loss) income attributable to Exide Technologies	$ (3,588)	$ 17,957	$ (8,780)	$ 8,913
(Loss) income per share
Basic	$ (0.05)	$ 0.23	$ (0.11)	$ 0.12
Diluted	$ (0.05)	$ 0.22	$ (0.11)	$ 0.11
Weighted average shares
Basic	77,627	76,492	77,573	76,416
Diluted	77,627	80,603	77,573	80,634