Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Schedule of Changes in the Components of AOCI) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Changes in the components of AOCI
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2017	$ 3,270,711
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2017	3,412,554
AOCI Attributable to Parent
Changes in the components of AOCI
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2017	(14,378)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(4,958)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	203
Other comprehensive loss attributable to Microchip Technology	(4,755)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2017	(19,133)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities
Changes in the components of AOCI
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2017	312
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(844)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0
Other comprehensive loss attributable to Microchip Technology	(844)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2017	(532)
Minimum pension liability
Changes in the components of AOCI
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2017	(5,263)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	(4,114)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	203
Other comprehensive loss attributable to Microchip Technology	(3,911)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2017	(9,174)
Foreign Currency
Changes in the components of AOCI
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at March 31, 2017	(9,427)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0
Other comprehensive loss attributable to Microchip Technology	0
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2017	$ (9,427)

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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Amount after tax, before reclassification adjustments, of other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to parent.

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Amount after tax of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent entity.

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Amount after tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent.

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.

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