XML 64 R65.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Acquisitions and Deconsolidation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  | 0 Months Ended |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
May 31, 2014 | Feb. 28, 2014 | May 31, 2014 | May 31, 2013 | May 31, 2012 | Apr. 30, 2014 Cintas Document Shredding [Member] | Apr. 30, 2014 Shred-it Partnership [Member] | Apr. 30, 2014 Shred-it Partnership [Member] | May 31, 2014 Series of business acquisitions First Aid, Safety and Fire Protection [Member] segment_business | May 31, 2013 Series of business acquisitions First Aid, Safety and Fire Protection [Member] segment_business | May 31, 2014 Series of business acquisitions Document Management [Member] segment_business | May 31, 2013 Series of business acquisitions Document Management [Member] segment_business
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of businesses acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12
Gain (loss) on Shredding deconsolidation |  |  | $ 106,441,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contribution to partnership, consideration expected to be received, cash |  |  |  |  |  |  | 180,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, recorded at fair value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 339,400,000 |  |  |  |
Carrying amount of business segment |  |  |  |  |  | 413,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Shredding transaction asset impairment charge |  |  | 16,143,000 | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shredding transaction costs | 26,300,000 | 2,200,000 | 28,481,000 | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Professional and legal fees |  |  | 4,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Employee termination benefit costs |  |  | 700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based compensation related to shares vested as a result of Shredding transaction |  |  | 12,400,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Charge for information systems contracts |  |  | 4,200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Incremental profit sharing and employee compensation |  |  | $ 6,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Business Segment, Carrying Amount + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ctas_BusinessSegmentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix: | ctas_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Contribution to Partnership, Consideration Received, Cash + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ctas_ContributiontoPartnershipConsiderationReceivedCash
Namespace Prefix: | ctas_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Employee Termination Benefit Expense + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ctas_EmployeeTerminationBenefitExpense
Namespace Prefix: | ctas_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Incremental Profit Sharing and Employee Compensation + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ctas_IncrementalProfitSharingandEmployeeCompensation
Namespace Prefix: | ctas_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Information Systems Contracts Charge + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ctas_InformationSystemsContractsCharge
Namespace Prefix: | ctas_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Professional and Legal Fees + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ctas_ProfessionalandLegalFees
Namespace Prefix: | ctas_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Includes, but is not limited to, one-time termination benefits, termination of an operating lease or other contract, consolidating or closing facilities, and relocating employees, and termination benefits associated with an ongoing benefit arrangement. Excludes expenses associated with special or contractual termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 5 -Section P -Subsection 3, 4 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessExitCosts1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of the gain (loss) recognized by the parent and included in its attributable portion of net income for the period due to deconsolidation of a subsidiary or derecognition of a group of assets. The gain (loss) recognized and included in the net income attributable to the parent for the period is generally computed as the difference between: (a) the aggregate of: (1) the fair value of any consideration received; (2) the fair value of any retained noncontrolling investment in the former subsidiary at the date the subsidiary was deconsolidated; and (3) the carrying amount of any noncontrolling interest in the former subsidiary (including any accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest) at the date the subsidiary was deconsolidated and (b) the carrying amount of the former subsidiary's assets and liabilities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4582445-111684 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeconsolidationGainOrLossAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903542&loc=d3e32014-111567 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of businesses acquired by the entity during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Additional share-based compensation cost recognized as a result of an occurrence of an event that accelerates its recognition. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAcceleratedCompensationCost
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration