Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Merchandise sales									$ 409,107	$ 402,118	$ 388,022
Jewelry scrapping sales									50,113	57,973	96,241
Pawn service charges									261,800	247,204	248,378
Other revenues									9,485	12,705	13,129
Total revenues	$ 184,585	$ 170,150	$ 188,213	$ 187,557	$ 170,291	$ 164,619	$ 188,735	$ 196,355	730,505	720,000	745,770
Merchandise cost of goods sold									258,271	267,789	248,637
Jewelry scrapping cost of goods sold									42,039	46,066	72,830
Other cost of revenues									1,965	3,125	2,446
Net revenues	106,861	100,394	108,365	112,610	99,547	93,808	101,238	108,427	428,230	403,020	421,857
Operating expenses:
Operations									301,387	294,939	293,737
Administrative									68,101	72,986	79,944
Depreciation and amortization									26,542	30,959	29,259
Loss (gain) on sale or disposal of assets									1,106	2,659	(5,841)
Restructuring									1,921	17,080	6,664
Total operating expenses									399,057	418,623	403,763
Operating income (loss)									29,173	(15,603)	18,094
Interest expense									16,477	16,385	7,911
Interest income									(81)	(278)	(299)
Loss (income) from investments in unconsolidated affiliates									255	5,473	(5,948)
Impairment of investments									10,957	26,837	7,940
Other expense									1,202	2,187	601
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									363	(66,207)	7,889
Income tax expense (benefit)									9,361	(14,025)	4,451
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	(17,502)	2,778	2,307	3,419	(57,107)	(783)	(2,675)	8,383	(8,998)	(52,182)	3,438
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	19,636	(9,133)	(78,250)	(11,685)	(36,998)	(9,454)	3,112	1,295	(79,432)	(42,045)	(77,474)
Net loss	2,134	(6,355)	(75,943)	(8,266)	(94,105)	(10,237)	437	9,678	(88,430)	(94,227)	(74,036)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest									(7,686)	(5,035)	(6,319)
Net loss attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	$ 3,231	$ (5,689)	$ (70,812)	$ (7,474)	$ (92,300)	$ (9,847)	$ 1,343	$ 11,612	$ (80,744)	$ (89,192)	$ (67,717)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic (loss) income per share attributable to EZCORP, Inc. — continuing operations (usd per share)	$ (0.31)	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ (1.04)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.17	$ (0.15)	$ (0.94)	$ 0.08
Diluted (loss) income per share attributable to EZCORP, Inc. — continuing operations (usd per share)	$ (0.31)	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.06	$ (1.04)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.17	$ (0.15)	$ (0.94)	$ 0.08
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)									54,427	54,369	54,148
Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to EZCORP, Inc.									$ (7,973)	$ (51,298)	$ 4,476
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to EZCORP, Inc.									$ (72,771)	$ (37,894)	$ (72,193)