Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	ELECTRO RENT CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000032166
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Feb. 29, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--05-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,987,826