Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 150,577	$ 122,159	$ 97,294
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(7)	10,393	(3,673)
Unrealized holding loss arising during period	(735)	930	0
Income tax benefit (provision)	2,330	(5,694)	1,918
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,588	5,629	(1,755)
Comprehensive income	152,165	127,788	95,539
Attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest:
Net income	6,869	0	0
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	955	0	0
Comprehensive income	7,824	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	144,341	127,788	95,539
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(36,454)	18,531	12,868
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(4,948)	13,649	(2,996)
Unrealized holding loss arising during period	0	0	0
Income tax benefit (provision)	1,733	(4,777)	1,049
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,215)	8,872	(1,947)
Comprehensive income	(39,669)	27,403	10,921
Attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest:
Net income	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	(39,669)	27,403	10,921
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	172,151	105,464	88,111
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(1,001)	1,690	(2,483)
Unrealized holding loss arising during period	(735)	930	0
Income tax benefit (provision)	597	(917)	869
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(1,139)	1,703	(1,614)
Comprehensive income	171,012	107,167	86,497
Attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest:
Net income	0	0	0
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	0	0	0
Comprehensive income	0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	171,012	107,167	86,497
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	14,880	(1,836)	(3,685)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	5,942	(4,946)	1,806
Unrealized holding loss arising during period	0	0	0
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	5,942	(4,946)	1,806
Comprehensive income	20,822	(6,782)	(1,879)
Attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest:
Net income	6,869	0	0
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	955	0	0
Comprehensive income	7,824	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	12,998	(6,782)	(1,879)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	0	0	0
Attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest:
Net income	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0