CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement
Net sales		$ 533,952	$ 528,876
Cost of sales (1)	[1]	224,935	222,357
Gross profit		309,017	306,519
Operating expenses:
Research and development (1)	[1]	84,680	84,370
Selling, general and administrative (1)	[1]	66,849	69,255
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		34,612	36,644
Special charges, net		1,557	304
Total operating expenses		187,698	190,573
Operating income		121,319	115,946
Losses on equity method investments		(177)	(32)
Other income (expense):
Interest income		5,528	4,742
Interest expense		(24,052)	(13,678)
Other income, net		16,947	13
Income before income taxes		119,565	106,991
Income tax (benefit) provision		(10,895)	17,082
Net income		130,460	89,909
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		207	0
Net income attributable to Microchip Technology		$ 130,667	$ 89,909
Basic net income per common share attributable to Microchip Technology stockholders		$ 0.65	$ 0.45
Diluted net income per common share attributable to Microchip Technology stockholders		0.60	0.40
Dividends declared per common share		$ 0.3575	$ 0.3555
Basic common shares outstanding		202,232	200,187
Diluted common shares outstanding		216,767	224,527
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		$ 14,112	$ 13,321
Cost of Sales [Member]
Other income (expense):
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	[2]	1,657	2,055
Research and Development Expense [Member]
Other income (expense):
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		7,098	6,309
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Other income (expense):
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		$ 5,357	$ 4,957

[1] Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:Cost of sales 1,657 2,055 Research and development 7,098 6,309 Selling, general and administrative 5,357 4,957

[2] During the three months ended June 30, 2015, $1.8 million of share-based compensation expense was capitalized to inventory and $1.7 million of previously capitalized share-based compensation expense in inventory was sold. During the three months ended June 30, 2014, $1.7 million of share-based compensation expense was capitalized to inventory and $2.1 million of previously capitalized share-based compensation expense in inventory was sold.