Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Continuing operations									$ 38,006,000	$ 75,535,000	$ 66,366,000
Gain on settlement of excise tax case								81,600,000	12,676,000	81,619,000	0
Gain on favorable outcome of excise tax case in Brazil, after tax								53,100,000
Restructuring costs									4,890,000	6,746,000	4,113,000
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	45,827,000	53,039,000	15,025,000	717,000	26,671,000	38,585,000	25,444,000	58,309,000	114,608,000	149,009,000	132,750,000
Diluted earnings per share	$ 1.64	$ 1.87	$ 0.48	$ (0.13)	$ 0.94	$ 1.36	$ 0.90	$ 2.05	$ 4.06	$ 5.25	$ 4.66
Restructuring Charges [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Restructuring costs	400,000				2,000,000	3,400,000	1,300,000
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	300,000				1,300,000	2,200,000	900,000
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.01				$ 0.04	$ 0.08	$ 0.03
Brazil [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Gain on settlement of excise tax case	12,700,000							81,600,000
Gain on favorable outcome of excise tax case in Brazil, after tax								53,100,000
Restructuring costs		1,100,000	3,400,000
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	8,200,000	700,000	2,200,000
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.30	$ 0.03	$ 0.09					$ 1.96		$ 1.87
Deltafina [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Continuing operations				$ 8,000,000
Diluted earnings per share				$ 0.34