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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Income Tax (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2014
Nov. 30, 2013
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Federal tax provision at statutory rates 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
State Taxes, net of Federal benefit 0.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 0.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Differences in foreign tax rates (4.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (4.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Permanent items and other adjustments 3.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments 1.70%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Increase (decrease) in Foreign valuation allowance 2.90%psmt_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInForeignDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (0.30%)psmt_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInForeignDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Provision for income taxes 37.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 32.60%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Payments under appeal [Member]    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Payments for Other Taxes 4.2us-gaap_PaymentsForOtherTaxes
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= psmt_PaymentsunderappealMember
 
Increased Taxable Loss in Colombia [Member]    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Effective income tax rate change 3.20%psmt_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateChange
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= psmt_IncreasedTaxableLossinColombiaMember
 
2014 Deferred tax asset adjustment [Member] [Member]    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Effective income tax rate change 0.40%psmt_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateChange
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= psmt_A2014DeferredtaxassetadjustmentMemberMember
 
Tax contingencies [Member]    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Provisional assessments 5.2psmt_Provisionalassessments
/ us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis
= psmt_TaxcontingenciesMember
 
Tax contingencies [Member] | Withholding taxes [Member]    
Income Taxes [Line Items]    
Provisional assessments 2.5psmt_Provisionalassessments
/ us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis
= psmt_TaxcontingenciesMember
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= psmt_WithholdingtaxesMember