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Significant Accounting Policies - Narrative (Details) |  | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Mar. 21, 2017 USD ($) | May 31, 2017 USD ($) segment | May 31, 2016 USD ($) | May 31, 2015 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted cash |  | $ 30,600,000 | $ 50,600,000 |  |  |
Impairment losses |  | $ 23,331,000 | 0 | $ 0 |  |
Number of reporting units | segment |  | 6 |  |  |  |
Impairment of intangible assets |  | $ 0 | 0 | $ 0 |  |
Other Assets | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs |  |  | 5,600,000 |  |  |
Long-term Liabilities | Accounting Standards Update 2015-03 |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt issuance costs |  |  | $ (5,600,000) |  |  |
Retained Earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect adjustment |  |  |  |  | $ 26,700,000 |
Paid-In Capital | Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Cumulative effect adjustment |  |  |  |  | $ (26,700,000) |
Uniforms in Service |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Inventories useful life, maximum |  | 18 months |  |  |  |
Other Rental Items |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Inventories useful life, minimum |  | 8 months |  |  |  |
Inventories useful life, maximum |  | 60 months |  |  |  |
Minimum | Service Contacts and Other Assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service contracts and other assets useful lives (years) |  | 5 years |  |  |  |
Maximum | Service Contacts and Other Assets |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service contracts and other assets useful lives (years) |  | 10 years |  |  |  |
All Other |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of reporting units | segment |  | 3 |  |  |  |
Shred-it Partnership |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of newly formed partnership owned by Cintas |  |  |  |  |  | 42.00%
Shred-it | Shred-it Partnership |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Partnership, ownership percentage by third party |  |  |  |  |  | 58.00%
G & K Services |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration transferred | $ 2,112,811,000 |  |  |  |  |
Impairment losses |  | $ 23,300,000 |  |  |  |
G & K Services | Service contracts |  |  |  |  |  |
Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Service contracts and other assets useful lives (years) |  | 15 years |  |  |  |

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