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, 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
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Sales and other operating revenues	$ 778,159	$ 758,054	$ 464,116	$ 271,472	$ 689,916	$ 767,802	$ 650,869	$ 433,528
Gross profit	122,091	147,572	85,071	55,540	103,204	139,307	119,312	71,468
Net income	46,375	58,077	15,484	525	27,209	44,203	29,830	53,913	120,461	155,155	140,919
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	45,827	53,039	15,025	717	26,671	38,585	25,444	58,309	114,608	149,009	132,750
Earnings (loss) available to Universal Corporation common shareholders after dividends on convertible perpetual preferred stock	$ 42,122	$ 49,309	$ 11,312	$ (2,995)	$ 22,958	$ 34,873	$ 21,731	$ 54,597	$ 99,748	$ 134,159	$ 117,900
Basic	$ 1.86	$ 2.13	$ 0.49	$ (0.13)	$ 0.99	$ 1.50	$ 0.94	$ 2.34	$ 4.33	$ 5.77	$ 5.05
Diluted	$ 1.64	$ 1.87	$ 0.48	$ (0.13)	$ 0.94	$ 1.36	$ 0.90	$ 2.05	$ 4.06	$ 5.25	$ 4.66
Convertible perpetual preferred stock, cash dividends declared per share	$ 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	$ 0.52	$ 0.52	$ 0.51	$ 0.51	$ 0.51	$ 0.51	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 2.06	$ 2.02	$ 1.98
Market price range of common stock, high	$ 48.10	$ 45.63	$ 56.35	$ 56.82	$ 58.99	$ 54.60	$ 63.36	$ 61.46	$ 48.10	$ 58.99
Market price range of common stock, low	$ 39.27	$ 38.53	$ 44.39	$ 52.16	$ 49.84	$ 50.06	$ 48.43	$ 54.45	$ 39.27	$ 49.84