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Business and Intangible Asset Acquisitions and Joint Ventures - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions, AUD in Millions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 Months Ended |
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Jul. 27, 2015 USD ($) Country | Jul. 27, 2015 EUR (€) Country | Mar. 25, 2015 USD ($) | Mar. 25, 2015 EUR (€) | Dec. 17, 2014 USD ($) | Oct. 10, 2014 USD ($) | Oct. 10, 2014 AUD | Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) | Mar. 04, 2014 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 12, 2012 USD ($) | Dec. 12, 2012 EUR (€) | Oct. 01, 2012 USD ($) | Jul. 26, 2012 USD ($) | May. 31, 2015 USD ($) | May. 31, 2014 USD ($) | May. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Jun. 01, 2015 customer
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,491,833 | $ 1,337,285 | $ 1,044,222 |
Net proceeds from sales of investments and business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,597 | 3,607 | 1,227 |
Remaining noncontrolling interest purchased by parent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | 242,000 |
Global Payments Asia-Pacific Philippines Incorporated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent |  |  |  |  | 51.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Comercia Global Payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commercia Global Payments Brazil |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net proceeds from sales of investments and business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2,100 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to Acquire Other Investments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 11,400 |  |  |
Global Payments Asia Pacific Limited |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Remaining noncontrolling interest purchased by parent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 242,000 |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 44.00% |  |  |  |
Reduction accounted for in equity |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 96,000 |  |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 3,300 | $ 8,400 |
Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 years |  |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26 years |  |  |
Realex Payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of controlling financial interest acquired |  |  | 95.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business acquisition, transaction costs |  |  | $ 1,200 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | 67,220 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ezidebit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of controlling financial interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid |  |  |  |  |  | $ 266,000 | AUD 302.6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  | $ 192,225 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fidelity Information Services’ (FIS) Check Gaming Guarantee business |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 237,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Customers Acquired | customer |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 260
Services Agreement, Term |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Global Payments Asia-Pacific Philippines Incorporated |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid |  |  |  |  | $ 3,600 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
PayPros |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of controlling financial interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 426,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 270,878 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Banca Civica |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of controlling financial interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 4,445 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration transferred |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 22,900 | € 17.5 |  |  |  |  |  |
Accelerated Payment Technologies (United States) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of controlling financial interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 410,200 |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 308,518 |  |  |  |  |
Contract-based and customer-related finite-lived intangible assets | Realex Payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 16 years |  |  |
Contract-based and customer-related finite-lived intangible assets | Ezidebit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 years |  |  |
Trade names | Realex Payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 years |  |  |
Trade names | Ezidebit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |
Customer-related intangible assets | PayPros |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Customer-related intangible assets | Banca Civica |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |
Customer-related intangible assets | Accelerated Payment Technologies (United States) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 years |  |  |
Contract-based intangible assets | PayPros |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13 years |  |  |
Contract-based intangible assets | Banca Civica |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18 years |  |  |
Contract-based intangible assets | Accelerated Payment Technologies (United States) | Minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 year 6 months |  |  |
Contract-based intangible assets | Accelerated Payment Technologies (United States) | Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |
Technology-based intangible assets | Realex Payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |
Technology-based intangible assets | Ezidebit |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 years |  |  |
Technology-based intangible assets | PayPros |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 years |  |  |
Technology-based intangible assets | Accelerated Payment Technologies (United States) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 years |  |  |
Euro | Realex Payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid | € |  |  |  | € 110.2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
United States of America, Dollars | Realex Payments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash paid |  |  | $ 118,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of countries in which joint venture operates | Country | 3 | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Global Payments and Caixa Bank Joint Venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage of joint venture | 51.00% | 51.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Global Payments, CaixaBank S.A., and Erste Group Bank AG Joint Venture | Global Payments and Caixa Bank Joint Venture |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage of joint venture | 51.00% | 51.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Payments to acquire interest in joint venture | $ 33,000 | € 30.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Subsequent Event | Global Payments, CaixaBank S.A., and Erste Group Bank AG Joint Venture | Erste Group |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ownership percentage of joint venture | 49.00% | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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