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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2020 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($)	May 31, 2021 USD ($) JointVenture Facility Segment Customer	May 31, 2020 USD ($) Customer	May 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of joint ventures \| JointVenture					9
Impairment of long-lived assets			$ 4,679
Derivative financial instruments, credit losses					$ 0
Number of manufacturing facilities operated \| Facility					21
Number of reportable segments \| Segment					2
Allowance for doubtful accounts increase (decrease)					$ (913)
Receivables, allowances					608	$ 1,521
Depreciation Expenses					74,779	79,368	$ 80,316
Advertising Expenses					$ 17,462	$ 17,603	$ 15,574
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Period allowed for payment of dues to customers					60 days
Maximum \| Building and Building Improvements
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life					40 years
Maximum \| Machinery and Equipment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life					20 years
Minimum [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Period allowed for payment of dues to customers					30 days
Minimum [Member] \| Building and Building Improvements
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life					10 years
Minimum [Member] \| Machinery and Equipment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, estimated useful life					3 years
Largest Customer
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of customers \| Customer					10	10
Sales Revenue, Net \| Product Concentration Risk
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage					37.00%	32.00%	38.00%
Sales Revenue, Net \| Foreign Operations
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage					7.00%	7.00%	5.00%
Sales Revenue, Net \| Customer Concentration Risk \| Largest Customer \| Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage					11.00%	10.00%
Sales Revenue, Net \| Customer Concentration Risk \| Ten Largest Customers
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage					34.00%	30.00%
Net Earnings \| Foreign Operations
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage					(1.00%)	2.00%	6.00%
Net Assets, Geographic Area \| Foreign Operations
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage					9.00%	13.00%
Workforce Subject to Collective Bargaining Arrangements \| Labor Force Concentration Risk [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Concentration risk percentage					8.00%
Engineered Cabs
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment of long-lived assets				$ 35,194
Cabs Joint Venture
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates	20.00%				20.00%
Net gain on deconsolidation	$ 258	$ 50				$ 208
Joint Venture Transactions
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of joint ventures \| JointVenture					4
Number of manufacturing facilities operated \| Facility					47
Spartan \| Joint Venture Transactions
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percent of controlling interest by the Company					52.00%
TWB \| Joint Venture Transactions
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percent of controlling interest by the Company					55.00%
Samuel \| Joint Venture Transactions
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percent of controlling interest by the Company					63.00%
Worthington Specialty Processing \| Joint Venture Transactions
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percent of controlling interest by the Company					51.00%
Samuel Joint Venture \| Miscellaneous Income
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gain in pre-tax earnings			$ 6,055
Samuel Joint Venture \| Joint Venture Transactions
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percent of controlling interest by the Company								31.25%
Additional ownership interest acquired in joint venture								31.75%
Percent of ownership interest held in unconsolidated affiliates					63.00%