Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Acquisition-related transaction costs	$ (4,700)								$ (4,700)
Income taxes									35,288	$ 41,188	$ 50,509
Restructuring and impairment costs									(7,543)	(20,304)	0
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	$ (15,565)	$ (25,966)	$ (28,077)	$ (2,072)	$ (31,361)	$ (28,135)	$ (31,446)	$ (13,179)	$ (71,680)	$ (104,121)	$ (105,662)
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.63	$ 1.04	$ 1.11	$ 0.08	$ 1.24	$ 1.11	$ 1.24	$ 0.52	$ 2.86	$ 4.11	$ 4.14
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges									$ (2,187)	$ (15,473)
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Holiday, Amount									$ 7,800
Tanzania
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation						$ 15,800
Diluted earnings per share						$ (0.62)
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges						$ (19,400)
All Other Countries [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Restructuring and impairment costs					$ (900)
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation					$ 600
Diluted earnings per share					$ (0.02)
North America [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Restructuring and impairment costs	$ (7,500)
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	$ 6,300
Diluted earnings per share	$ (0.25)
Tax benefit - dividend tax reversal [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Diluted earnings per share							$ 0.03	$ 0.27
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Tax Holiday, Amount							$ 900	$ 6,900
Settlement with Taxing Authority [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Income taxes				$ (2,800)
Diluted earnings per share				$ (0.11)
FruitSmart, Inc. [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Acquisition-related transaction costs		$ (1,000)	$ (900)
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	$ (2,800)
Diluted earnings per share	$ (0.11)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.04)
FruitSmart, Inc. [Member] | Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory [Member]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	$ 2,100
Diluted earnings per share	$ (0.08)