XML 56 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Useful Lives (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
May 31, 2013
Minimum | Land Improvements |
Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items] |
Property Plant and equipment useful life | 3 years
Minimum | Building and Building Improvements |
Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items] |
Property Plant and equipment useful life | 3 years
Minimum | Machinery and Equipment |
Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items] |
Property Plant and equipment useful life | 1 year
Maximum | Land Improvements |
Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items] |
Property Plant and equipment useful life | 30 years
Maximum | Building and Building Improvements |
Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items] |
Property Plant and equipment useful life | 50 years
Maximum | Machinery and Equipment |
Property Plant and Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items] |
Property Plant and equipment useful life | 30 years

X
- Details
Name: | rpm_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentEstimatedUsefulLivesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | rpm_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration