LEASES (Summary of Rental Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
LEASES [Abstract]
Minimum rental payments	$ 11,895	$ 12,963	$ 11,223
Deferred rent accurals	2,706	127	(80)
Total straight line rent expense	14,601	13,090	11,143
Contingent rental payments	3,568	3,399	3,320
Common area maintenance expense	704	723	1,174
Rental expense	$ 18,873	$ 17,212	$ 15,637

Represents the payments that the lessee is obligated to pay for the common area maintenance to the landlord.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the difference between the straight-line expense and the cash payments of the lease.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Represents the straight line expense of the lease

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	psmt_
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Balance Type:	debit
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- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, are excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved.

+ References

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- Definition

This element represents the payments that the lessee is obligated to make or can be required to make in connection with a property under the terms of an agreement classified as an operating lease, excluding contingent rentals and a guarantee by the lessee of the lessor's debt and the lessee's obligation to pay (apart from the rental payments) executory costs such as insurance, maintenance, and taxes.

+ References

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- Definition

Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income.

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