Description of Business	9 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of Columbus McKinnon Corporation (the Company) at December 31, 2017, the results of its operations for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, have been included. Results for the period ended December 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending March 31, 2018. The balance sheet at March 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Columbus McKinnon Corporation annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2017. For its fiscal 2018 financial statements, the Company has reclassified research and development expenses previously recorded in general and administrative expense into a separate line item on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and retained earnings. All periods presented have been revised to reflect this presentation. With the acquisitions of Magnetek in September 2015 and STAHL CraneSystems (“STAHL”) in January 2017, the Company expects research and development costs to factor more prominently in our cost structure. Therefore, the new presentation of research and development costs provides transparency into these costs. Consistent with prior periods, the Company continues to account for research and development expenses in accordance with the provisions of ASC 730. Costs that qualify as research and development costs are expensed as incurred. The Company is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of hoists, actuators, cranes, rigging tools, digital power control systems, and other material handling products, which efficiently and safely move, lift, position, and secure materials. Key products include hoists, rigging tools, cranes, actuators, digital power control and delivery systems, and elevator application drive systems. On January 31, 2017, the Company acquired STAHL. STAHL is a leading manufacturer of explosion-protected hoists and crane components specializing in custom engineering of lifting solutions and hoisting technology. STAHL serves independent crane builders and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms, providing products to a variety of end markets including oil & gas, automotive, general manufacturing, steel & concrete, power generation as well as process industries such as chemical and pharmaceuticals. The Company’s material handling products are sold globally, principally to third party distributors through diverse distribution channels, and to a lesser extent directly to end-users. During the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2017, approximately 52% and 53% of sales were to customers in the United States, respectively.

Description of Business

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of Columbus McKinnon Corporation (the Company) at December 31, 2017, the results of its operations for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, and cash flows for the nine months ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, have been included. Results for the period ended December 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending March 31, 2018. The balance sheet at March 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date, but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Columbus McKinnon Corporation annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2017.

For its fiscal 2018 financial statements, the Company has reclassified research and development expenses previously recorded in general and administrative expense into a separate line item on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and retained earnings. All periods presented have been revised to reflect this presentation. With the acquisitions of Magnetek in September 2015 and STAHL CraneSystems (“STAHL”) in January 2017, the Company expects research and development costs to factor more prominently in our cost structure. Therefore, the new presentation of research and development costs provides transparency into these costs. Consistent with prior periods, the Company continues to account for research and development expenses in accordance with the provisions of ASC 730. Costs that qualify as research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

The Company is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of hoists, actuators, cranes, rigging tools, digital power control systems, and other material handling products, which efficiently and safely move, lift, position, and secure materials. Key products include hoists, rigging tools, cranes, actuators, digital power control and delivery systems, and elevator application drive systems. On January 31, 2017, the Company acquired STAHL. STAHL is a leading manufacturer of explosion-protected hoists and crane components specializing in custom engineering of lifting solutions and hoisting technology. STAHL serves independent crane builders and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) firms, providing products to a variety of end markets including oil & gas, automotive, general manufacturing, steel & concrete, power generation as well as process industries such as chemical and pharmaceuticals.

The Company’s material handling products are sold globally, principally to third party distributors through diverse distribution channels, and to a lesser extent directly to end-users. During the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2017, approximately 52% and 53% of sales were to customers in the United States, respectively.