Consolidated Statements Of Income And Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Sales and other operating revenues		$ 653,581	$ 668,771	$ 1,426,451	$ 1,421,188
Costs and expenses
Cost of goods sold		545,063	533,318	1,171,000	1,145,694
Selling, general and administrative expenses		48,839	52,068	144,242	153,101
Restructuring and impairment costs	[1]	0	178	0	3,860
Operating income		59,679	83,207	111,209	118,533
Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	[2]	6,404	4,495	6,636	5,625
Interest income		166	482	1,362	1,116
Interest expense		4,020	4,051	11,916	12,440
Income before income taxes and other items		62,229	84,133	107,291	112,834
Income taxes		12,010	27,071	25,445	36,778
Net income		50,219	57,062	81,846	76,056
Less: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		(4,819)	(3,415)	(6,702)	(2,621)
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation		45,400	53,647	75,144	73,435
Dividends on Universal Corporation convertible perpetual preferred stock		0	(3,687)	0	(11,061)
Earnings available to Universal Corporation common shareholders		$ 45,400	$ 49,960	$ 75,144	$ 62,374
Earnings per share attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders:
Basic		$ 1.80	$ 2.17	$ 2.97	$ 2.73
Diluted		$ 1.78	$ 1.92	$ 2.94	$ 2.63
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		25,230,336	22,982,473	25,323,796	22,831,717
Diluted		25,460,409	27,996,583	25,546,070	27,967,215
Total comprehensive income (loss)
Total comprehensive income, net of income taxes		$ 53,971	$ 58,717	$ 96,159	$ 76,038
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income taxes		(5,128)	(3,214)	(6,900)	(1,976)
Comprehensive income attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes		$ 48,843	$ 55,503	$ 89,259	$ 74,062
Dividends declared per common share		$ 0.55	$ 0.54	$ 1.63	$ 1.60

[1] Restructuring and impairment costs are excluded from segment operating income, but are included in consolidated operating income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

[2] Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates is included in segment operating income (Other Tobacco Operations segment), but is reported below consolidated operating income and excluded from that total in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income