Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	Aug. 10, 2016	Dec. 01, 2015
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	RUBY TUESDAY INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000068270
Trading Symbol	rt
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--05-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		60,137,399
Entity Public Float			$ 343,124,069
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	May 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false