Investments	9 Months Ended
Feb. 29, 2016
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investments	Investments Investments at February 29, 2016 of $118.6 million include the cash surrender value of insurance policies of $101.3 million, equity method investments of $15.0 million, and cost method investments of $2.3 million. Investments at May 31, 2015 of $329.7 million include the cash surrender value of insurance policies of $101.8 million, equity method investments of $225.7 million and cost method investments of $2.2 million. Effective August 31, 2015, Cintas' investment in Shred-it was classified as discontinued operations as a result of Cintas entering into a definitive agreement to sell its investment. In the quarter ended November 30, 2015, Cintas completed the transaction to sell its investment in Shred-it. Cash proceeds received at the closing of the transaction totaled $578.3 million. The transaction involved contingent consideration that the Company has an opportunity to receive if specified future events occur. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the future events, these amounts represent gain contingencies that have not been recorded. As allowed under applicable accounting guidance, the May 31, 2015 consolidated condensed balance sheet amounts for these assets and liabilities remain in their natural classifications. See Note 12 entitled Discontinued Operations. On June 30, 2014, Cintas sold stock in an equity method investment. In conjunction with the sale of the equity method investment, Cintas also received a cash dividend of $5.2 million. Total cash received from the transaction was $35.2 million. The sale resulted in the recording of a gain, net of tax, of approximately $13.6 million in the nine months ended February 28, 2015. As a result, the Company no longer has the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee. Therefore, effective July 1, 2014, the remaining investment retained by Cintas is accounted for under the cost method. Investments are evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or when indicators of impairment exist. For the nine months ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015, no impairment losses were recorded.

Investments

Investments at February 29, 2016 of $118.6 million include the cash surrender value of insurance policies of $101.3 million, equity method investments of $15.0 million, and cost method investments of $2.3 million. Investments at May 31, 2015 of $329.7 million include the cash surrender value of insurance policies of $101.8 million, equity method investments of $225.7 million and cost method investments of $2.2 million.

Effective August 31, 2015, Cintas' investment in Shred-it was classified as discontinued operations as a result of Cintas entering into a definitive agreement to sell its investment. In the quarter ended November 30, 2015, Cintas completed the transaction to sell its investment in Shred-it. Cash proceeds received at the closing of the transaction totaled $578.3 million. The transaction involved contingent consideration that the Company has an opportunity to receive if specified future events occur. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the future events, these amounts represent gain contingencies that have not been recorded. As allowed under applicable accounting guidance, the May 31, 2015 consolidated condensed balance sheet amounts for these assets and liabilities remain in their natural classifications. See Note 12 entitled Discontinued Operations.

On June 30, 2014, Cintas sold stock in an equity method investment. In conjunction with the sale of the equity method investment, Cintas also received a cash dividend of $5.2 million. Total cash received from the transaction was $35.2 million. The sale resulted in the recording of a gain, net of tax, of approximately $13.6 million in the nine months ended February 28, 2015. As a result, the Company no longer has the ability to exercise significant influence over the investee. Therefore, effective July 1, 2014, the remaining investment retained by Cintas is accounted for under the cost method.

Investments are evaluated for impairment on an annual basis or when indicators of impairment exist. For the nine months ended February 29, 2016 and February 28, 2015, no impairment losses were recorded.