Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Merchandise sales	$ 414,838	$ 409,107	$ 402,118
Jewelry scrapping sales	51,189	50,113	57,973
Pawn service charges	273,080	261,800	247,204
Other revenues	8,847	9,485	12,705
Total revenues	747,954	730,505	720,000
Merchandise cost of goods sold	266,525	258,271	267,789
Jewelry scrapping cost of goods sold	43,931	42,039	46,066
Other cost of revenues	1,988	1,965	3,125
Net revenues	435,510	428,230	403,020
Operating expenses:
Operations	304,636	301,387	294,939
Administrative	53,254	68,101	72,986
Depreciation and amortization	23,661	26,542	30,959
Loss on sale or disposal of assets	359	1,106	2,659
Restructuring	0	1,921	17,080
Total operating expenses	381,910	399,057	418,623
Operating income (loss)	53,600	29,173	(15,603)
Interest expense	27,803	16,477	16,385
Interest income	(12,103)	(81)	(278)
Equity in net (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliate	(4,916)	255	5,473
Impairment of investments	0	10,957	26,837
Other (income) expense	(423)	1,202	2,187
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	43,239	363	(66,207)
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,206	9,361	(14,025)
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	32,033	(8,998)	(52,182)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1,825)	(79,432)	(42,045)
Net income (loss)	30,208	(88,430)	(94,227)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,650)	(7,686)	(5,035)
Net income (loss) attributable to EZCORP, Inc.	$ 31,858	$ (80,744)	$ (89,192)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to EZCORP, Inc. — continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 0.62	$ (0.15)	$ (0.94)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to EZCORP, Inc. — continuing operations (usd per share)	$ 0.62	$ (0.15)	$ (0.94)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding (shares)	54,260	54,427	54,369
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	54,368	54,427	54,369