Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other operating revenues		$ 1,909,979	$ 2,227,153	$ 2,033,947
Costs and expenses
Cost of goods sold		1,553,167	1,820,562	1,661,999
Selling, general and administrative expenses		222,902	225,118	201,123
Restructuring and impairment costs		7,543	20,304	0
Operating income		126,367	161,169	170,825
Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	[1]	4,211	5,299	9,125
Other non-operating income (expense)		986	832	662
Interest income		1,581	1,532	1,686
Interest expense		19,854	17,510	15,621
Income before income taxes		113,291	151,322	166,677
Income taxes		35,288	41,188	50,509
Net income		78,003	110,134	116,168
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		(6,323)	(6,013)	(10,506)
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation		$ 71,680	$ 104,121	$ 105,662
Earnings per share:
Basic		$ 2.87	$ 4.14	$ 4.18
Diluted		$ 2.86	$ 4.11	$ 4.14
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		24,982,259	25,129,192	25,274,975
Diluted		25,106,351	25,330,437	25,508,144

[1] 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.