CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 60,271	$ 59,715
Short-term investments	1,391	1,395
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,736 and $11,261, respectively	164,738	151,038
Inventories	125,567	107,926
Deferred income taxes	1,722	1,666
Other current assets	16,157	13,915
Total current assets	369,846	335,655
Investments	15,105	13,642
Property, plant and equipment, net	134,504	129,750
Deferred income taxes	33,818	30,555
Other assets	16,354	21,101
Goodwill	465,003	405,180
Other intangible assets, net	62,825	57,942
Total assets	1,097,455	993,825
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt, current maturities	18,014	12,073
Trade accounts payable	46,655	36,308
Accrued compensation	31,339	39,062
Accrued income taxes	10,272	12,984
Other current liabilities	55,461	47,686
Total current liabilities	161,741	148,113
Long-term debt	299,170	225,256
Accrued pension	66,714	50,276
Postretirement benefits	26,417	23,307
Deferred income taxes	17,007	15,950
Environmental reserve	5,406	5,961
Other liabilities	42,745	31,234
Total liabilities	619,200	500,097
Arrangement with noncontrolling interest	10,162	0
Shareholders' equity-Matthews:
Preferred stock, $100 par value, authorized 10,000 shares, none issued	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	48,554	48,294
Retained earnings	681,658	621,923
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(58,658)	(37,136)
Treasury stock, 7,884,190 and 6,855,669 shares, respectively, at cost	(243,246)	(207,470)
Total shareholders' equity-Matthews	464,642	461,945
Noncontrolling interests	3,451	31,783
Total shareholders' equity	468,093	493,728
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,097,455	993,825
Class A common stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity-Matthews:
Common stock, $1.00 par value; authorized 70,000,000 shares; 36,333,992 shares issued	$ 36,334	$ 36,334