For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 18
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51801978&loc=d3e6351-108592

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13531-108611

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51801978&loc=d3e6404-108592

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 825
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 21
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49121117&loc=d3e13537-108611

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- Definition

The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

+ References

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- Definition

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

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- Definition

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

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- Definition

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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No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of Joint Ventures

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Segment Data - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Segment Data - Additional Information (Detail)	May 31, 2016 JointVentures Segment	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| Segment	3
Number of joint ventures	12
Product Concentration Risk \| Net Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	43.00%	38.00%	36.00%
Pressure Cylinders \| Product Concentration Risk \| Net Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage	30.00%	30.00%	30.00%
WEI \| Joint Venture Transactions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percent of controlling interest by the Company	75.00%
Professional Supply, Inc. \| Joint Venture Transactions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest by noncontrolling owner	20.00%
Stonehenge Structured Finance Partners, LLC \| Joint Venture Transactions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest by noncontrolling owner	5.00%
Worthington Cylinders \| Pressure Cylinders
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of joint ventures	2
Worthington Steel \| Steel Processing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of joint ventures	3