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Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities - Narrative (Details) |  | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 28, 2014 USD ($) | May. 31, 2015 USD ($) | May. 31, 2014 USD ($) | May. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount |  | $ 62,500,000.0 | $ 17,677,000.000 |  |
Extinguishment of debt |  |  | 2,100,000 |  |
Debt issuance cost | $ 6,000,000 |  |  |  |
Reclassification of losses on hedging activities to interest expense |  | (3,958,000) | 0 | $ 0 |
Interest expense, debt |  | 39,900,000 | 37,500,000 | 31,700,000 |
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense |  | 716,000 | 739,000 |  |
Corporate Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Lines of credit facility, available borrowings |  | $ 484,300,000 | 851,900,000 |  |
Unsecured Debt |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Leverage Ratio, Minimum |  | 0 |  |  |
Debt instrument, covenant, leverage ratio, maximum |  | 0 |  |  |
Minimum interest coverage ratio |  | 0 |  |  |
Unsecured Debt | Five Year Unsecured Term Loan Due February 2019 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt term | 5 years |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Face Amount | $ 1,250,000,000.00 | $ 1,234,375,000 | 1,250,000,000 |  |
Interest rate at period end |  | 1.94% |  |  |
Debt instrument, periodic principal payment, minimum |  | 1.25% |  |  |
Debt instrument, periodic principal payment, maximum |  | 2.50% |  |  |
Debt instrument, periodic payment terms, principal to be paid prior to balloon payment at maturity, percentage | 27.50% |  |  |  |
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense |  | $ 2,433,000 | 3,172,000 |  |
Unsecured Debt | Five Year Unsecured Term Loan Due February 2019 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Variable rate basis | LIBOR |  |  |  |
Unsecured Debt | 5 Year Unsecured Term Loan Due September 2017 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt |  |  | (2,100,000) |  |
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Expiring February 2019 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt term | 5 years |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity | $ 1,000,000,000 |  |  |  |
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Expiring February 2019 | LIBOR |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest rate at period end |  |  |  |  | 1.90%
Standby Letters of Credit | Corporate Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Corporate credit facility - long-term |  | 7,600,000 | 8,100,000 |  |
Maximum | Standby Letters of Credit | Corporate Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Corporate credit facility - long-term | 100,000,000 |  |  |  |
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit Facility Expiring December 2015 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt | 290,000,000 |  |  |  |
Unsecured Debt | 5 Year Unsecured Term Loan Due September 2017 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Extinguishment of debt | $ 612,500,000 |  |  |  |
Interest Rate Swap |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative, amount of hedged item |  | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |
Not designated as hedging instrument | Interest Rate Swap |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative, fixed interest rate |  | 1.52% |  |  |
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Cash flow hedge derivative instrument liabilities at fair value |  | $ 6,200,000 |  |  |
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities | Interest Rate Swap |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Derivative, Notional Amount |  | $ 500,000,000 | 500,000,000 |  |
Global Payments Asia Pacific Limited |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense |  |  | $ 3,300,000 | $ 8,400,000 |
Line of Credit | Corporate Credit Facility |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Leverage Ratio, Minimum |  | 0 |  |  |
Debt instrument, covenant, leverage ratio, maximum |  | 0 |  |  |
Minimum interest coverage ratio |  | 0 |  |  |
Line of Credit |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity |  | $ 1,258,700,000 |  |  |
Lines of credit facility, available borrowings |  | $ 567,500,000 |  |  |
Short term debt, weighted average interest rate |  | 1.50% | 1.70% |  |
Repayments of lines of credit |  | $ 193,200,000 |  |  |
Short-term Debt |  | 592,600,000 | $ 440,100,000 |  |
Line of credit facility, average outstanding amount |  | $ 647,300,000 |  |  |

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