Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 54,979	$ 103,711
Accounts receivable, net	454,871us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	495,447us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Inventories	488,895us-gaap_InventoryNet	483,218us-gaap_InventoryNet
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	43,044	47,874
Deferred income taxes	14,741us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	16,339us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent
Total current assets	1,056,530us-gaap_AssetsCurrent	1,146,589us-gaap_AssetsCurrent
Property, plant and equipment, net	544,378us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	576,412us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
Other assets:
Goodwill and intangibles, net	126,217xide_GoodwillAndIntangibles	142,381xide_GoodwillAndIntangibles
Deferred income taxes	86,587us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	116,736us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent
Other noncurrent assets	106,847us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent	50,670us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
Total other assets	319,651us-gaap_OtherAssets	309,787us-gaap_OtherAssets
Total assets	1,920,559us-gaap_Assets	2,032,788us-gaap_Assets
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings	2,690us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings	4,058us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
Current maturities of long-term debt	484,465	288,386
Accounts payable	249,218us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent	268,828us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Accrued expenses	261,132us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	263,904us-gaap_AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Deferred income taxes	3,130us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent	4,435us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCurrent
Total current liabilities	1,000,635us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent	829,611us-gaap_LiabilitiesCurrent
Long-term debt	13,750	15,533
Noncurrent retirement obligations	141,207	166,692
Deferred income taxes	13,862	25,332
Other noncurrent liabilities	58,370us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	64,493us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
Liabilities not subject to compromise	1,227,824us-gaap_Liabilities	1,101,661us-gaap_Liabilities
Liabilities subject to compromise	998,317us-gaap_LiabilitiesSubjectToCompromise	950,643us-gaap_LiabilitiesSubjectToCompromise
STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding	0us-gaap_PreferredStockValue	0us-gaap_PreferredStockValue
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 78,000 and 79,078 shares issued and outstanding	780us-gaap_CommonStockValue	791us-gaap_CommonStockValue
Additional paid-in capital	1,140,602us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital	1,139,850us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapital
Accumulated deficit	(1,388,092)	(1,157,124)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(67,641)	(11,449)
Total stockholders’ deficit attributable to Exide Technologies	(314,351)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity	(27,932)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Noncontrolling interests	8,769us-gaap_MinorityInterest	8,416us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Total stockholders’ deficit	(305,582)	(19,516)
Total liabilities and Debtors' equity	$ 1,920,559	$ 2,032,788

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant