Current assets (normally turning over within one year or one business cycle if longer) that are held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold within one year.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759

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- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

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- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

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Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)							9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014	May 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2014 Metal Framing	Mar. 01, 2011 Joint Venture Transactions ClarkDietrich	Feb. 28, 2014 Joint Venture Transactions Worthington Aritas	Feb. 28, 2014 Joint Venture Transactions Spartan Steel Coating, LLC	Feb. 28, 2014 Joint Venture Transactions TWB	Jul. 31, 2013 Joint Venture Transactions TWB	Feb. 28, 2014 Joint Venture Transactions Worthington Energy Innovations, LLC	Feb. 28, 2014 Joint Venture Transactions Worthington Nitin Cylinders Limited
Basis of Presentation [Line Items]
Percent of controlling interest by the company					75.00%	52.00%	55.00%	55.00%	75.00%	60.00%
Percentage of additional interest acquired by the company							10.00%	10.00%
Purchase of additional interest							$ 17,869,000
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates				25.00%
Assets held for sale	$ 2,435,000	$ 3,040,000	$ 2,435,000