CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Tax Benefit From Stock Based Compensation [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Stockholder's Equity Attributable To PriceSmart, Inc. [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Aug. 31, 2015	$ 3	$ 403,168	$ 10,711	$ (101,512)	$ 283,611	$ (29,397)	$ 566,584		$ 566,584
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2015	30,978,000					793,000
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (3,334)	(3,334)		(3,334)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						43,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	256,000
Exercise of stock options		80					80		80
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	4,000
Stock-based compensation		9,121	610				9,731		9,731
Dividend paid to stockholders					(21,274)		(21,274)		(21,274)
Net income					88,723		88,723		88,723
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(2,439)			(2,439)		(2,439)
Balance at Aug. 31, 2016	$ 3	412,369	11,321	(103,951)	351,060	$ (32,731)	638,071		638,071
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2016	31,238,000					836,000
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (3,193)	(3,193)		(3,193)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						39,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	63,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(37,000)
Exercise of stock options		704					704		704
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	12,000
Stock-based compensation		9,689	165				9,854		9,854
Dividend paid to stockholders					(21,285)		(21,285)		(21,285)
Net income					90,724		90,724		90,724
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(6,108)			(6,108)		(6,108)
Balance at Aug. 31, 2017	$ 3	422,762	11,486	(110,059)	420,499	$ (35,924)	708,767		$ 708,767
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2017	31,276,000					875,000			30,400,742
Acquisition of Aeropost								$ 562	$ 562
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (3,183)	(3,183)		(3,183)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						37,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	109,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(16,000)
Exercise of stock options		269					269		269
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	4,000
Stock-based compensation		10,218					10,218		10,218
Dividend paid to stockholders					(21,240)		(21,240)		(21,240)
Net income					74,328		74,328	75	74,403
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(11,157)			(11,157)	(1)	(11,158)
Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 3	432,882	$ 11,486	$ (121,216)	473,954	$ (39,107)	$ 758,002	$ 636	$ 758,638
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018	31,373,000					912,000			30,460,353
Cumulative effect of accounting change for the adoption of ASU 2016-09		$ (367)			$ 367