Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 18,898	$ 14,501	$ 10,018
Cost of sales	12,118	9,356	6,180
Gross profit	6,780	5,145	3,838
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	7,052	6,975	6,470
Research and development	4,657	4,324	4,062
Total operating expenses	11,709	11,299	10,532
Loss from operations	(4,929)	(6,154)	(6,694)
Interest expense	(678)	(605)	(130)
Other (expense) income, net	(21)	(16)	211
Loss before income tax expense	(5,628)	(6,775)	(6,613)
Income tax expense	(25)	(10)	(34)
Net loss	(5,653)	(6,785)	(6,647)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Net loss attributable to Aehr Test Systems common shareholders	$ (5,653)	$ (6,785)	$ (6,647)
Net loss per share – basic and diluted	$ (0.35)	$ (0.52)	$ (0.55)
Shares used in per share calculation – basic	16,267,000	13,091,000	12,047,000
Shares used in per share calculation – diluted	16,267,000	13,091,000	12,047,000