Operating Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues:
Merchandise sales									$ 335,410	$ 282,083	$ 240,454
Jewelry scrapping sales									208,319	212,479	171,411
Pawn service charges									235,642	201,135	163,695
Consumer loan fees									207,671	171,951	157,022
Other revenues									5,425	1,669	463
Total revenues	258,352	228,964	256,278	248,873	234,085	203,152	213,254	218,826	992,467	869,317	733,045
Merchandise cost of goods sold									192,014	162,060	140,284
Jewerly scrapping cost of goods sold									134,848	133,560	110,838
Consumer loan bad debt									41,377	38,759	34,444
Net revenues	163,318	145,260	161,622	154,028	146,759	122,997	130,950	134,232	624,228	534,938	447,479
Store operations									303,486	267,052	236,664
Administrative									44,771	24,686	19,382
Depreciation									17,832	13,657	10,895
Amortization									1,960	855	631
(Gain)/loss on sale or disposal of assets									0	309	1,544
Interest, net									(4,511)	34	2
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates									(17,400)	(16,237)	(10,750)
Other income									(1,210)	(164)	(93)
Segment Contribution									279,300	244,746	189,204
Amortization									1,979	855	631
Gain on sale or disposal of assets									(1)	309	1,528
Income before income taxes									221,600	188,711	151,530
Income tax expense									71,023	66,552	54,236
Net income									150,577	122,159	97,294
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest									6,869	0	0
Net income attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	38,572	28,523	37,261	39,352	36,365	26,527	31,838	27,429	143,708	122,159	97,294
U S Or Canada Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Merchandise sales									293,461	256,846	226,424
Jewelry scrapping sales									192,587	196,482	164,022
Pawn service charges									210,645	184,234	154,505
Consumer loan fees									170,886	171,951	157,022
Other revenues									3,769	1,547	463
Total revenues									871,348	811,060	702,436
Merchandise cost of goods sold									169,285	147,388	131,825
Jewerly scrapping cost of goods sold									122,955	121,355	104,701
Consumer loan bad debt									37,405	38,759	34,444
Net revenues									541,703	503,558	431,466
Store operations									272,446	246,416	225,006
Administrative									25,893	19,444	16,550
Depreciation									13,930	11,211	9,442
Amortization									526	456	275
(Gain)/loss on sale or disposal of assets									(235)	296	1,546
Interest, net									(3)	30	0
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates									0	0	0
Other income									(647)	(3)	3
Segment Contribution									229,793	225,708	178,644
Latin America [Member]
Revenues:
Merchandise sales									41,949	25,237	14,030
Jewelry scrapping sales									15,732	15,997	7,389
Pawn service charges									24,997	16,901	9,190
Consumer loan fees									26,901	0	0
Other revenues									1,348	122	0
Total revenues									110,927	58,257	30,609
Merchandise cost of goods sold									22,729	14,672	8,459
Jewerly scrapping cost of goods sold									11,893	12,205	6,137
Consumer loan bad debt									309	0	0
Net revenues									75,996	31,380	16,013
Store operations									28,919	20,636	11,658
Administrative									14,281	4,447	2,763
Depreciation									3,725	2,446	1,453
Amortization									1,388	399	356
(Gain)/loss on sale or disposal of assets									12	13	(2)
Interest, net									(4,507)	4	2
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates									0	0	0
Other income									(4)	7	(3)
Segment Contribution									32,182	3,428	(214)
Other International [Member]
Revenues:
Merchandise sales									0	0	0
Jewelry scrapping sales									0	0	0
Pawn service charges									0	0	0
Consumer loan fees									9,884	0	0
Other revenues									308	0	0
Total revenues									10,192	0	0
Merchandise cost of goods sold									0	0	0
Jewerly scrapping cost of goods sold									0	0	0
Consumer loan bad debt									3,663	0	0
Net revenues									6,529	0	0
Store operations									2,121	0	0
Administrative									4,597	795	69
Depreciation									177	0	0
Amortization									46	0	0
(Gain)/loss on sale or disposal of assets									223	0	0
Interest, net									(1)	0	0
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates									(17,400)	(16,237)	(10,750)
Other income									(559)	(168)	(93)
Segment Contribution									17,325	15,610	10,774
Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Administrative									49,264	50,584	33,358
Depreciation									5,457	3,832	3,135
Amortization									19
Gain on sale or disposal of assets									(1)		(16)
Interest, net									$ 2,961	$ 1,619	$ 1,197