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

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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This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Article 5

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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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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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

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- Definition

Cash dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations that are returns of capital. Excludes dividends or distributions from equity method investments classified as operating activities.

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- Definition

Amount of consolidated retained earnings that represent undistributed (not yet received) earnings from 50% or less owned persons accounted for by the equity method (equity method investees).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 852
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6462270&loc=d3e57205-112772

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Cumulative distributions from an equity method investee in excess of the entity's investment balance in the investee.

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No definition available.

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Number Of Affiliated Companies

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Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016 USD ($) Entity	May 31, 2015 USD ($) Entity	May 31, 2014 USD ($) Entity	Oct. 18, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Number of unconsolidated affiliates \| Entity	4	4	4
Consolidated retained earnings undistributed earnings net of tax	$ 23,283,000
ClarkDietrich
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Distributions from (investments in) unconsolidated affiliate(s)		$ 570,000
WAVE
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Cumulative distributions in excess of investment	52,983,000	61,585,000
Unconsolidated Affiliates
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	$ 86,513,000	$ 78,297,000	$ 85,346,000
Joint Venture Transactions \| ArtiFlex
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| ClarkDietrich
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	25.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| Samuel Steel Pickling Company
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	31.25%
Joint Venture Transactions \| Seviacero
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| WAVE
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| Zhejiang Nisshin Worthington Precision Specialty Steel Co
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	10.00%			10.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| Zhejiang Nisshin Worthington Precision Specialty Steel Co \| Maximum
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates				34.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| TWB
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percentage of additional interest acquired by the company					10.00%
Percent of controlling interest by the Company	55.00%				55.00%