Significant Accounting Policies Computation of Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Mar. 31, 2010
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to Alliance One International, Inc.	$ 20,097		$ 11,754		$ (3,721)		$ 1,321		$ (103,663)		$ (1,989)		$ 20,279		$ 13,822		$ 29,451		$ (71,551)		$ 79,167
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)																	87,023		87,799		88,627
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.23	[1]	$ 0.13	[1]	$ (0.04)	[1]	$ 0.02	[1]	$ (1.19)	[1]	$ (0.02)	[1]	$ 0.23	[1]	$ 0.16	[1]	$ 0.34	[1]	$ (0.81)		$ 0.89
Plus interest expense on 5 ½% convertible notes, net of tax																	4,111		0	[2]	3,072
Net income (loss) attributable to Alliance One International, Inc. as adjusted																	33,562		(71,551)		82,239
Restricted shares issued and shares applicable to stock options and restricted stock units, net of shares assumed to be purchased from proceeds at average market price (in shares)																	282		0	[2]	413
Assuming conversion of 5 ½% convertible notes																	22,872		0	[2]	17,001
Shares applicable to stock warrants (in shares)																	0	[3]	0	[3]	0	[2]
Adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding																	110,177		87,799		106,041
Diluted Earnings (loss) Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	[1]	$ 0.12	[1]	$ (0.04)	[1]	$ 0.02	[1]	$ (1.19)	[1]	$ (0.02)	[1]	$ 0.19	[1]	$ 0.13	[1]	$ 0.30	[1]	$ (0.81)		$ 0.78
Common shares, owned by subsidiary (in shares)	7,853								7,853								7,853		7,853
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount																	$ 40,000
Stock repurchased during period, shares (in shares)																	2,380
Weighted average price of stock repurchased (in dollars per share)																	$ 3.78
Stock Options [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)																	4,191		4,042
Weighted average exercise price, anitdilutive shares (in dollars per share)																	$ 6.03		$ 6.30
5.5% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2014 [Member] | Convertible Debt [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	5.50%																5.50%
Initial conversion price (in dollars per share)	$ 5.0280																$ 5.0280

[1] Does not add due to quarterly change in average shares outstanding

[2] Assumed conversion of convertible notes at the beginning of the period has an antidilutive effect on earnings (loss) per share. All outstanding restricted shares and shares applicable to stock options and restricted stock units are excluded because their inclusion would have an antidilutive effect on the loss per share

[3] For the year ended March 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, the warrants were not assumed exercised because the exercise price was more than the average price for the period