Document and Entity Information (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	Columbus McKinnon Corporation
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	19,496,251
Entity Public Float	$ 285,230,152
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2