Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	May 17, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NY
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Entity File Number	0-27618
Document Annual Report	true
Trading Symbol	CMCO
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Tax Identification Number	16-0547600
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	COLUMBUS McKINNON CORP
Entity Address, Address Line One	205 Crosspoint Parkway
Entity Address, City or Town	Getzville
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	14068
City Area Code	716
Local Phone Number	689-5400
Entity Central Index Key	0001005229
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Shell Company	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--03-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding (May)			23,786,363
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Public Float (@ 9/30) - shares from Q2 times 9/30 stock price (adj. close)		$ 859
Document Fiscal Year (linked throughout the document) - not tagged	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY