Net Income (Loss) Per Common Share From Continuing Operations Attributable to Microchip Technology Stockholders (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Microchip Technology	$ 35,574	$ 64,899	$ (73,651)	$ 195,566
Weighted average common shares outstanding	215,524,000	204,275,000	214,935,000	203,254,000
Dilutive effect of stock options and RSUs	4,465,000	3,065,000	0	3,228,000
Dilutive effect of 2037 junior subordinated convertible debentures	13,971,278	9,759,393	0	10,451,083
Weighted average common and potential common shares outstanding	233,960,000	217,099,000	214,935,000	216,933,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations, per basic share (in USD per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.32	$ (0.34)	$ 0.96
Income (loss) from continuing operations, per diluted share (in USD per share)	$ 0.15	$ 0.30	$ (0.34)	$ 0.90
Number of antidilutive option shares		182,848		47,296
Junior Subordinated Convertible Debentures Due 2037
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Number of antidilutive option shares			13,068,545
Interest rate of subordinated convertible debentures	2.125%		2.125%
Weighted average conversion price per share used in calculating dilutive effect of convertible debt (amount per share)	$ 24.07	$ 24.87	$ 24.15	$ 24.94
Senior Subordinated Convertible Debenture Due 2025
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest rate of subordinated convertible debentures	1.625%		1.625%
Weighted average conversion price per share used in calculating dilutive effect of convertible debt (amount per share)	$ 65.38	$ 67.55	$ 65.60	$ 67.75
Employee Stock Option
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Number of antidilutive option shares			4,312,066

The weighted average price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

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