Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 14,501	$ 10,018	$ 19,684
Cost of sales	9,356	6,180	9,462
Gross profit	5,145	3,838	10,222
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	6,975	6,470	6,323
Research and development	4,324	4,062	3,402
Total operating expenses	11,299	10,532	9,725
(Loss) income from operations	(6,154)	(6,694)	497
Interest expense	(605)	(130)	(26)
Other (expense) income, net	(16)	211	(64)
(Loss) income before income tax (expense) benefit	(6,775)	(6,613)	407
Income tax (expense) benefit	(10)	(34)	15
Net (loss) income	(6,785)	(6,647)	422
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Aehr Test Systems common shareholders	$ (6,785)	$ (6,647)	$ 422
Net (loss) income per share - basic and diluted	$ (0.52)	$ (0.55)	$ 0.04
Shares used in per share calculation - basic (in thousands)	13,091	12,047	10,877
Shares used in per share calculation - diluted (in thousands)	13,091	12,047	11,889