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Stockholders' Equity - Components of Employee Stock-Based Compensation (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 5,936us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	$ 10,696us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	$ 8,138us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue
Stock Options
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation expense	1,851us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember	2,730us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember	3,389us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Restricted Stock and Stock Awards
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation expense	4,063us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember	7,936us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember	4,698us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total stock-based compensation expense	$ 22us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = amsc_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember	$ 30us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = amsc_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember	$ 51us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = amsc_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember

X

- Definition

This element represents the amount of recognized equity-based compensation during the period, that is, the amount recognized as expense in the income statement (or as asset if compensation is capitalized). Alternate captions include the words "stock-based compensation".

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 35

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415241&loc=d3e4534-113899



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=32706628&loc=d3e11149-113907



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=32706628&loc=d3e11178-113907

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section F

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- Details

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X

- Details

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