Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Restructuring costs				$ 3,000,000	$ 6,900,000				$ 900,000
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation		(25,755,000)	(58,453,000)	8,039,000	(15,888,000)	(27,116,000)	(52,298,000)	(51,831,000)	(25,320,000)	(92,057,000)	(156,565,000)	(168,397,000)
Diluted earnings per share		$ 0.91	$ 2.06	$ (0.51)	$ 0.52	$ 0.95	$ 1.82	$ 1.78	$ 0.87	$ 3.25	$ 5.42	$ 5.68
Gain on property and equipment fire loss insurance settlement					9,600,000					9,592,000	0	0
Charge recorded to accrue European Commission fines										49,091,000	(7,445,000)	0
Reversed European Commission fine previously recorded								(7,400,000)
Gain on the sale of land and buildings			11,100,000							18,366,000	5,575,000	5,019,000
Gain from assignment of farmer contracts and sale of assets	19,400,000						19,400,000			0	19,368,000	0
Restructuring costs and asset impairment charges						7,500,000	11,000,000
Universal Corporation And Deltafina [Member]
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation				(46,200,000)				4,800,000
Diluted earnings per share				$ 1.85				$ (0.17)
Charge recorded to accrue European Commission fines				49,100,000
Brazil [Member]
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation			7,200,000				12,600,000
Diluted earnings per share			$ (0.25)				$ (0.44)
Restructuring Charges [Member]
Restructuring costs		1,400,000
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation		(900,000)		(1,900,000)	(4,400,000)			(1,300,000)	(600,000)
Diluted earnings per share		$ 0.03		$ 0.08	$ 0.19			$ 0.05	$ 0.02
Restructuring Charges And Impairment Costs [Member]
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation						(4,800,000)	(7,500,000)
Diluted earnings per share						$ 0.17	$ 0.26
Insurance Settlement [Member]
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation					6,200,000
Diluted earnings per share					$ (0.27)
Gain on property and equipment fire loss insurance settlement					9,600,000
Employee Termination Benefits [Member]
Restructuring costs					3,800,000
Exit Costs [Member]
Restructuring costs					3,100,000
Voluntary Early Retirement Offers [Member]
Restructuring costs								$ 2,000,000