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 (in thousands) at May. 31, 2016	13,216
Beginning balance, Amount at May. 31, 2016	$ 132	$ 58,052	$ 2,237	$ (61,124)	$ (703)	$ (20)	$ (723)
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Shares (in thousands)	779
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Amount	$ 8	696	0	0	704	0	704
Issuance of common stock under public offering, Shares (in thousands)	4,423
Issuance of common stock under public offering, Amount	$ 44	15,788	0	0	15,832	0	15,832
Issuance of common stock under private offering, Shares (in thousands)	2,722
Issuance of common stock under private offering, Amount	$ 27	5,272	0	0	5,299	0	5,299
Issuance of common stock in consideration for cancellation of outstanding vendor invoice, Shares (in thousands)	200
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 (in thousands) at May. 31, 2017	21,340
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 (in thousands)	803
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 (in thousands) at May. 31, 2018	22,143
Ending balance, Amount at May. 31, 2018	$ 221	83,041	2,292	(66,249)	19,305	(20)	19,285
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Shares (in thousands)	526
Issuance of common stock under employee plans, Amount	$ 6	553	0	0	559	0	559
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	905	0	0	905	0	905
Net (loss) income	0	0	0	(5,235)	(5,235)	0	(5,235)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	$ 0	0	(62)	0	(62)	1	(61)
Ending balance, Shares (in thousands) at May. 31, 2019	22,669
Ending balance, Amount at May. 31, 2019	$ 227	$ 84,499	$ 2,230	$ (71,484)	$ 15,472	$ (19)	$ 15,453