CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 972,141	$ 799,411
Cost of sales	[1]	387,702	450,921
Gross profit		584,439	348,490
Research and development	[1]	130,480	147,883
Selling, general and administrative	[1]	114,272	157,505
Amortization of acquired intangible assets		120,845	80,171
Special (income) charges and other, net		(2,756)	22,035
Operating expenses		362,841	407,594
Operating income (loss)		221,598	(59,104)
Losses on equity method investment		(55)	(56)
Other income (expense):
Interest income		3,526	819
Interest expense		(49,490)	(34,416)
Loss on settlement of convertible debt		(13,826)	0
Other income, net		4,452	2,010
Income (loss) before income taxes		166,205	(90,747)
Income tax (benefit) provision		(4,382)	18,478
Net income (loss) from continuing operations		170,587	(109,225)
Loss from discontinued operations		0	(5,473)
Income tax benefit		0	(1,335)
Net loss from discontinued operations		0	(4,138)
Net income (loss)		$ 170,587	$ (113,363)
Basic net income (loss) per common share
Basic net income from continuing operations, per common share (in USD per share)		$ 0.74	$ (0.51)
Basic net loss from discontinued operations, per common share (in USD per share)		0.00	(0.02)
Basic net income attributable to Microchip Technology, per common share (in USD per share)		0.74	(0.53)
Diluted net income (loss) per common share
Diluted net income from continuing operations, per common share (in USD per share)		0.70	(0.51)
Diluted net loss from discontinued operations, per common share (in USD per share)		0.00	(0.02)
Diluted net income attributable to Microchip Technology, per common share (in USD per share)		0.70	(0.53)
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)		$ 0.3615	$ 0.3595
Basic common shares outstanding		229,429	214,345
Diluted common shares outstanding		242,902	214,345

[1] Includes share-based compensation expense as follows:Cost of sales 3,394 7,897 Research and development 10,289 17,517 Selling, general and administrative 8,725 34,165