<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.3.0.11</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ReportType />
  <ContextCount>93</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>258</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>38</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001500 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/NatureOfOperationsAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2102100 - Disclosure - Restructuring</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/Restructuring</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2103100 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income (Loss)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ComprehensiveIncomeLoss</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income (Loss)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipment</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Equipment</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Inventories, Net</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/InventoriesNet</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories, Net</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/Debt</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Additional Consolidated Balance Sheets Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/AdditionalConsolidatedBalanceSheetsInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Consolidated Balance Sheets Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2108100 - Disclosure - Income Tax Expense (Benefit)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Tax Expense (Benefit)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2109100 - Disclosure - Benefit Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/BenefitPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Benefit Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2110100 - Disclosure - Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/Contingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2111100 - Disclosure - Business Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/BusinessSegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segment Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2112100 - Disclosure - Common Shares</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/CommonShares</Role>
      <ShortName>Common Shares</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2113100 - Disclosure - Repurchases of Common Shares</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/RepurchasesOfCommonShares</Role>
      <ShortName>Repurchases of Common Shares</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2114100 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ShareBasedCompensation</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Compensation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2115100 - Disclosure - Financial and Other Guarantees</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/FinancialAndOtherGuarantees</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial and Other Guarantees</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2116100 - Disclosure - Forward and Swap Contracts</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ForwardAndSwapContracts</Role>
      <ShortName>Forward and Swap Contracts</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2117100 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2118100 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2302301 - Disclosure - Restructuring Liabilities related to restructuring (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/RestructuringLiabilitiesRelatedToRestructuringTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Liabilities related to restructuring (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2303301 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ComprehensiveIncomeLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2304301 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Equipment Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2305301 - Disclosure - Inventories, Net Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/InventoriesNetLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories, Net Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Debt Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/DebtLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2307301 - Disclosure - Additional Consolidated Balance Sheets Information Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/AdditionalConsolidatedBalanceSheetsInformationLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Consolidated Balance Sheets Information Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2309301 - Disclosure - Benefit Plans Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/BenefitPlansLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Benefit Plans Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2311301 - Disclosure - Business Segment Information Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/BusinessSegmentInformationLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segment Information Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2312301 - Disclosure - Common Shares Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/CommonSharesLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Common Shares Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2314301 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Compensation Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2315301 - Disclosure - Financial and Other Guarantees Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/FinancialAndOtherGuaranteesLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial and Other Guarantees Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2316301 - Disclosure - Forward and Swap Contracts Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ForwardAndSwapContractsLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Forward and Swap Contracts Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2317301 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements Level 3 (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsLevel3Tables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements Level 3 (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401402 - Disclosure - Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/NatureOfOperationsAndSummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2402402 - Disclosure - Restructuring Restructuring reserves and related costs (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/RestructuringRestructuringReservesAndRelatedCostsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Restructuring reserves and related costs (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403402 - Disclosure - Comprehensive Income Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ComprehensiveIncomeLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Comprehensive Income Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404402 - Disclosure - Property, Plant and Equipment Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/PropertyPlantAndEquipmentLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Property, Plant and Equipment Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405402 - Disclosure - Inventories, Net Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/InventoriesNetLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Inventories, Net Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Debt Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/DebtLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Debt Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407402 - Disclosure - Additional Consolidated Balance Sheets Information Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/AdditionalConsolidatedBalanceSheetsInformationLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Additional Consolidated Balance Sheets Information Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408402 - Disclosure - Income Tax Expense Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/IncomeTaxExpenseUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Tax Expense Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409402 - Disclosure - Benefit Plans Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/BenefitPlansLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Benefit Plans Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2410401 - Disclosure - Contingencies Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ContingenciesLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Contingencies Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411402 - Disclosure - Business Segment Information Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/BusinessSegmentInformationLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segment Information Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2411403 - Disclosure - Business Segment Information Details - Business Combinations (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/BusinessSegmentInformationDetailsBusinessCombinationsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segment Information Details - Business Combinations (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R49.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412402 - Disclosure - Common Shares Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/CommonSharesLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Common Shares Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R50.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412403 - Disclosure - Common Shares Common share options (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/CommonSharesCommonShareOptionsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Common Shares Common share options (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R51.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413402 - Disclosure - Repurchases of Common Shares Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/RepurchasesOfCommonSharesLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Repurchases of Common Shares Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R52.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2414402 - Disclosure - Share-Based Compensation Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ShareBasedCompensationLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Share-Based Compensation Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R53.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2415402 - Disclosure - Financial and Other Guarantees Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/FinancialAndOtherGuaranteesLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Financial and Other Guarantees Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R54.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416402 - Disclosure - Forward and Swap Contracts Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/ForwardAndSwapContractsLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Forward and Swap Contracts Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R55.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2417402 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements Level 4 (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.steris.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsLevel4Details</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements Level 4 (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">'Shares' elements on report '1001500 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Jun. 30, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Mar. 31, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001500 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1003000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>ste-20110630.xml</File>
    <File>ste-20110630.xsd</File>
    <File>ste-20110630_cal.xml</File>
    <File>ste-20110630_def.xml</File>
    <File>ste-20110630_lab.xml</File>
    <File>ste-20110630_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
