CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Tax benefit from stock-based compensation [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member]	Accumulated deficit [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total PriceSmart stockholders' equity [Member]	Non-Controlling Interest [Member]
Balance at Aug. 31, 2009	$ 301,168,000	$ 3,000	$ 377,210,000	$ 4,547,000	$ (17,230,000)	$ (49,998,000)	$ (14,134,000)	$ 300,398,000	$ 770,000
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2009		30,337,000					656,000
Purchase of treasury stock	(1,434,000)						(1,434,000)	(1,434,000)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)							71,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)		152,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)		(5,000)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		141,000
Exercise of stock options	873,000		873,000					873,000
Stock-based compensation	3,721,000		3,778,000	(57,000)				3,721,000
Dividends	14,895,000					14,895,000		14,895,000
Dividend paid to stockholders			0
Stockholder contribution	396,000		396,000				0	396,000
Acquisition of 5% noncontrolling interest	(3,800,000)		(2,914,000)			0		(2,914,000)	(886,000)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax	(112,000)				(112,000)			(112,000)
Net income	49,447,000					49,315,000		49,315,000	132,000
Translation adjustment	679,000		25,000		670,000			695,000	(16,000)
Comprehensive income	50,014,000							49,898,000	116,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2010	336,043,000	3,000	379,368,000	4,490,000	(16,672,000)	(15,578,000)	(15,568,000)	336,043,000	0
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2010		30,625,000					727,000
Purchase of treasury stock	(2,711,000)						(2,711,000)	(2,711,000)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)							69,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)		71,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)		(6,000)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		6,000
Exercise of stock options	144,000		144,000					144,000
Stock-based compensation	4,789,000		4,037,000	752,000				4,789,000
Dividends	17,934,000					17,934,000		17,934,000
Stockholder contribution	0
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax	(172,000)		0		(172,000)			(172,000)
Unrealized expense on defined benefit plan, net of tax	(273,000)		0		(273,000)			(273,000)	0
Net income	61,750,000					61,750,000		61,750,000	0
Translation adjustment to fixed asset for merger of subsidiaries	(4,851,000)				(4,851,000)			(4,851,000)
Translation adjustment	(947,000)		0		(947,000)			(947,000)	0
Comprehensive income	55,507,000							55,507,000	0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2011	375,838,000	3,000	383,549,000	5,242,000	(22,915,000)	28,238,000	(18,279,000)	375,838,000
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2011		30,696,000					796,000
Purchase of treasury stock	(3,154,000)						(3,154,000)	(3,154,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Treasury Stock Reissued	(196,850)	(197,000)					(197,000)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Treasury Stock Reissued			(4,953,000)				4,953,000
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)							46,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)		353,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)		(2,000)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		6,000
Exercise of stock options	89,000		89,000					89,000
Stock-based compensation	6,907,000		5,469,000	1,438,000				6,907,000
Dividends						18,120,000
Dividend paid to stockholders	(18,120,000)							(18,120,000)
Stockholder contribution	0
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps, net of tax	(398,000)				(398,000)			(398,000)
Unrealized expense on defined benefit plan, net of tax	199,000				199,000			199,000
Net income	67,621,000					67,621,000		67,621,000
Translation adjustment to fixed asset for merger of subsidiaries	(8,881,000)				(8,881,000)			(8,881,000)
Translation adjustment	(1,187,000)				(1,187,000)			(1,187,000)
Comprehensive income	57,354,000							57,354,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2012	$ 418,914,000	$ 3,000	$ 384,154,000	$ 6,680,000	$ (33,182,000)	$ 77,739,000	$ (16,480,000)	$ 418,914,000
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2012		30,856,000					645,000