CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement
Net sales		$ 541,391	$ 546,243	$ 1,075,343	$ 1,075,119
Cost of sales (1)	[1]	240,441	238,789	465,376	461,146
Gross profit		300,950	307,454	609,967	613,973
Operating expenses:
Research and development (1)	[1]	95,256	88,814	179,936	173,184
Selling, general and administrative (1)	[1]	80,258	71,114	147,107	140,369
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		43,840	45,433	78,452	82,077
Special charges, net		6,648	775	8,205	1,079
Total operating expenses		226,002	206,136	413,700	396,709
Operating income		74,948	101,318	196,267	217,264
Losses on equity method investments		(56)	(35)	(233)	(67)
Other income (expense):
Interest income		6,405	4,531	11,933	9,273
Interest expense		(25,644)	(14,019)	(49,696)	(27,697)
Other (expense) income, net		(1,696)	(1,091)	15,251	(1,078)
Income before income taxes		53,957	90,704	173,522	197,695
Income tax (benefit) provision		(10,942)	(1,334)	(21,837)	15,748
Net income		64,899	92,038	195,359	181,947
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	1,603	207	1,603
Net income attributable to Microchip Technology		$ 64,899	$ 93,641	$ 195,566	$ 183,550
Basic net income per common share attributable to Microchip Technology stockholders		$ 0.32	$ 0.47	$ 0.96	$ 0.92
Diluted net income per common share attributable to Microchip Technology stockholders		0.30	0.42	0.90	0.82
Dividends declared per common share		$ 0.3580	$ 0.3560	$ 0.7155	$ 0.7115
Basic common shares outstanding		204,275	200,629	203,254	200,408
Diluted common shares outstanding		217,099	225,284	216,933	224,906
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		$ 23,026	$ 15,273	$ 37,138	$ 28,594
Cost of Sales [Member]
Other income (expense):
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	[2]	2,398	2,640	4,055	4,695
Research and Development Expense [Member]
Other income (expense):
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		8,670	7,261	15,768	13,570
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Other income (expense):
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense		$ 11,958	$ 5,372	$ 17,315	$ 10,329

[1] Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:Cost of sales 2,398 2,640 4,055 4,695 Research and development 8,670 7,261 15,768 13,570 Selling, general and administrative 11,958 5,372 17,315 10,329

[2] During the three and six months ended September 30, 2015, $1.8 million and $3.6 million, respectively, of share-based compensation expense was capitalized to inventory and $2.4 million and $4.1 million, respectively, of previously capitalized share-based compensation expense in inventory was sold. During the three and six months ended September 30, 2014, $1.6 million and $3.3 million, respectively, of share-based compensation expense was capitalized to inventory and $2.6 million and $4.7 million, respectively, of previously capitalized share-based compensation expense in inventory was sold.