Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Nov. 26, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015	Nov. 26, 2016	Nov. 28, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 253,544	$ 545,975	$ 493,389	$ 1,155,870
Cost of sales	249,596	334,378	499,010	681,202
Gross profit (loss)	3,948	211,597	(5,621)	474,668
Selling, general, and administrative expense	41,991	45,438	82,247	88,401
Operating income (loss)	(38,043)	166,159	(87,868)	386,267
Other income (expense):
Interest income, net	781	616	1,872	643
Royalty income	324	298	730	905
Equity in income of affiliates	645	1,302	836	2,031
Other, net	(475)	(366)	(878)	(1,180)
Total other income (expense)	1,275	1,850	2,560	2,399
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(36,768)	168,009	(85,308)	388,666
Income tax expense (benefit)	(13,801)	58,099	(31,361)	134,666
Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest	(22,967)	109,910	(53,947)	254,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	43	680	(1)	1,747
Net income (loss) attributable to Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.	$ (23,010)	$ 109,230	$ (53,946)	$ 252,253
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.48)	$ 2.27	$ (1.12)	$ 5.24
Diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.48)	2.26	(1.12)	5.22
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.000	$ 0.751	$ 0.000	$ 1.734
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	48,250	48,164	48,249	48,164
Diluted (in shares)	48,250	48,361	48,249	48,354