Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Grupo Finmart	Grupo Finmart Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Beginning balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 879,027	$ 543	$ 320,537	$ 564,424	$ (6,477)
Beginning balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2013		54,240
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock related to 401(k) match	557		557
Issuance of common stock related to 401(k) plan (shares)		45
Stock compensation	6,845		6,845
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(13,275)		(13,260)		(15)
Release of restricted stock	3	$ 3
Release of restricted stock (shares)		300
Excess tax deficiency from stock compensation	(609)		(609)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	(1,982)		(1,982)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	(250)				(250)
Net proceeds from sale of warrants	25,106		25,106
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(3,831)				(3,831)
Foreign currency translation reclassification adjustment realized upon impairment	375				375
Purchase of treasury stock (shares)						(1,000)
Retirement of treasury stock	(11,903)	$ (10)	(4,930)	(6,963)
Retirement of treasury stock (shares)		(1,000)				1,000
Net loss attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	(67,717)			(67,717)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2014	812,346	$ 536	332,264	489,744	(10,198)
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2014		53,585
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock compensation	(1,558)		(1,558)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(20,293)		(20,222)		(71)
Release of restricted stock	1	$ 1
Release of restricted stock (shares)		111
Excess tax deficiency from stock compensation	(236)		(236)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	(210)		(210)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	428				428
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(45,255)				(45,255)
Net loss attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	(89,192)			(89,192)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2015	656,031	$ 537	310,038	400,552	(55,096)
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2015		53,696
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock compensation	9,152		9,152
Release of restricted stock	4	$ 4
Release of restricted stock (shares)		403
Excess tax deficiency from stock compensation	(295)		(295)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards	(172)		(172)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	21				21
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(14,187)				(14,187)		$ 25,173	$ 25,173
Net loss attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	(80,744)			(80,744)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 594,983	$ 541	$ 318,723	$ 319,808	$ (44,089)
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2016		54,099