Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	May 25, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
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	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		23,090,255
Entity Public Float (@ 9/30)			$ 868
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY