Investment in NEC TOKIN - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands, ¥ in Millions, TWD in Millions			8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May. 02, 2016 USD ($) suit	Feb. 01, 2013 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($) number_of_times	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) number_of_times item	Mar. 31, 2016 JPY (¥) item	Mar. 31, 2016 TWD item	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 12, 2012 director_position	May. 05, 2010
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on options				$ (26,300)			$ 2,100	$ 3,111
Forward Option Net Asset Liability at Fair Value				$ (20,600)
Document Period End Date				Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
KEC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Business Combination, Indemnification Assets, Range of Outcomes, Value, Low				$ (8,500)
NECTOKIN
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss				84,000
Stockholders Agreement | KEC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Receivables balance under agreement				748			572
NECTOKIN
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Revenue from Related Parties				21,061			13,500	6,040
Related Party Transaction, Purchases from Related Party				5,912			3,605	1,789
Accounts receivable				5,220			3,344
Accounts payable				$ 1,019			765
NECTOKIN | KEC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Purchase price		$ 54,500
Transaction expenses		4,500
NECTOKIN | Stock Purchase Agreement | KEC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock acquired									51.00%
KEMET's equity ownership %				34.00%					34.00%
Purchase price paid		50,000
Investment in NEC TOKIN (excludes non cash investment)		$ 50,000
NECTOKIN | Stockholders Agreement
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of director positions | director_position									7
NECTOKIN | Stockholders Agreement | KEC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of director positions | director_position									4
NECTOKIN | Option Agreement | KEC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Common stock acquired			51.00%
Purchase price for expected additional shares that may be acquired			$ 50,000
Economic Ownership, Percentage of Ownership After Transaction			49.00%
LTM EBITDA multiple | number_of_times			6
NECTOKIN | Put Option
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Forward Option Net Asset Liability at Fair Value				$ (20,600)			5,700
NECTOKIN | Put Option | KEC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
LTM EBITDA multiple | number_of_times				6
Level 3 | Recurring | NECTOKIN | Put Option
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on options				$ (26,300)			2,100	3,100
Equity Method Investments | Stockholders Agreement | NECTOKIN
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Business Combination, Indemnification Assets, Range of Outcomes, Value, Low				(25,000)
Indemnification Agreement | Equity Method Investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount				13,800
Settled Litigation [Member] | Indemnification Agreement | Equity Method Investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount				$ 2,300
Fine, Number of Payments | item				6	6	6
Pending Litigation | KEC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Loss in Period				$ 17,500
TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value				37,700		TWD 1,218.2
TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA | Minimum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Damages Sought, Value				18,900		TWD 609.1
JAPAN
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount				$ 1,100	¥ 127.2
10.5% Senior Notes
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)				10.50%						10.50%
Subsequent Event | Indemnification Agreement | Equity Method Investments | NECTOKIN
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Litigation Settlement, Amount	$ 37,300
Subsequent Event | Preliminary Settlement | Indemnification Agreement | Equity Method Investments | NECTOKIN
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number | suit	2
Other Noncurrent Assets [Member] | Level 3 | Recurring | NECTOKIN | Put Option
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Forward Option Net Asset Liability at Fair Value				$ (20,600)			5,700	$ 3,600
Other Assets [Member] | Level 3 | Recurring | NECTOKIN | Put Option
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Forward Option Net Asset Liability at Fair Value							$ 5,700