Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Sales and other operating revenues	$ 645,092	$ 680,029	$ 675,187	$ 461,391	$ 653,966	$ 672,420	$ 641,026	$ 479,465
Gross profit	106,897	125,441	138,049	92,030	111,103	147,105	119,426	94,358
Net income	26,685	39,715	49,286	25,233	29,892	61,602	(7,997)	17,322	140,919	100,819	164,550
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	26,102	35,542	47,981	23,125	25,755	58,453	(8,039)	15,888	132,750	92,057	156,565
Earnings (loss) available to Universal Corporation common shareholders after dividends on convertible perpetual preferred stock	$ 22,389	$ 31,830	$ 44,268	$ 19,413	$ 22,042	$ 54,741	$ (11,752)	$ 12,176	$ 117,900	$ 77,207	$ 141,715
Basic	$ 0.96	$ 1.36	$ 1.89	$ 0.83	$ 0.95	$ 2.36	$ (0.51)	$ 0.52	$ 5.05	$ 3.32	$ 5.94
Diluted	$ 0.92	$ 1.25	$ 1.68	$ 0.81	$ 0.91	$ 2.06	$ (0.51)	$ 0.52	$ 4.66	$ 3.25	$ 5.42
Cash dividends declared per share of convertible perpetual preferred stock	$ 16.87	$ 16.88	$ 16.87	$ 16.88	$ 16.87	$ 16.88	$ 16.87	$ 16.88	$ 67.50	$ 67.50	$ 67.50
Common stock, cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 0.49	$ 0.49	$ 0.49	$ 0.49	$ 0.48	$ 0.48	$ 1.98	$ 1.94	$ 1.90
Market price range of common stock, high	$ 58.36	$ 52.25	$ 51.10	$ 47.40	$ 48.60	$ 47.38	$ 41.48	$ 45.72	$ 58.36	$ 48.60
Market price range of common stock, low	$ 51.29	$ 45.62	$ 44.03	$ 44.08	$ 44.88	$ 35.78	$ 35.11	$ 36.94	$ 51.29	$ 44.88