Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	May 24, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001005229
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--03-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		22,596,824
Entity Public Float			$ 0
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY