Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Accumulated Deficit	Total Aehr Test Systems Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)	Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Beginning Balance, Shares at May. 31, 2015	12,857,000
Beginning Balance, Amount at May. 31, 2015	$ 129	$ 56,547	$ 2,231	$ (54,339)	$ 4,568	$ (18)	$ 4,550
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Shares	359,000
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Amount	$ 3	509	0	0	512	0	512
Issuance of common stock under public offering, Amount							0
Issuance of common stock in consideration for cancellation of outstanding vendor invoice, Amount							0
Stock-based compensation	0	996	0	0	996	0	996
Net (loss) income	0	0	0	(6,785)	(6,785)	0	(6,785)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ 0	0	6	0	6	(2)	4
Ending Balance, Shares at May. 31, 2016	13,216,000
Ending Balance, Amount at May. 31, 2016	$ 132	58,052	2,237	(61,124)	(703)	(20)	(723)
Issuance of common stock under private offering, Shares	2,722,000
Issuance of common stock under private offering, Amount	$ 27	5,272	0	0	5,299	0	5,299
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Shares	779,000
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Amount	$ 8	696	0	0	704	0	704
Issuance of common stock under public offering, Shares	4,423,000
Issuance of common stock under public offering, Amount	$ 44	15,788	0	0	15,832	0	15,832
Issuance of common stock in consideration for cancellation of outstanding vendor invoice, Shares	200,000
Issuance of common stock in consideration for cancellation of outstanding vendor invoice, Amount	$ 2	321	0	0	323	0	323
Stock-based compensation	0	999	0	0	999	0	999
Net (loss) income	0	0	0	(5,653)	(5,653)	0	(5,653)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ 0	0	12	0	12	1	13
Ending Balance, Shares at May. 31, 2017	21,340,000
Ending Balance, Amount at May. 31, 2017	$ 213	81,128	2,249	(66,777)	16,813	(19)	16,794
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Shares	803,000
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Amount	$ 8	917	0	0	925	0	925
Issuance of common stock under public offering, Amount							0
Issuance of common stock in consideration for cancellation of outstanding vendor invoice, Amount							0
Stock-based compensation	0	996	0	0	996	0	996
Net (loss) income	0	0	0	528	528	0	528
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ 0	0	43	0	43	(1)	42
Ending Balance, Shares at May. 31, 2018	22,143,000
Ending Balance, Amount at May. 31, 2018	$ 221	$ 83,041	$ 2,292	$ (66,249)	$ 19,305	$ (20)	$ 19,285