Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Uniform rental and facility services	$ 999,596	$ 938,408
Other	294,534	260,482
Total revenue	1,294,130	1,198,890
Costs and expenses:
Cost of uniform rental and facility services	540,932	518,503
Cost of other	169,424	156,243
Selling and administrative expenses	374,026	338,637
G&K Services, Inc. acquisition expenses	2,787	0
Operating income	206,961	185,507
Interest income	(65)	(119)
Interest expense	14,172	16,412
Income before income taxes	192,854	169,214
Income taxes	54,763	63,016
Income from continuing operations	138,091	106,198
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $3,419	0	(6,017)
Net income	$ 138,091	$ 100,181
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Basic earnings (loss) per share, continuing operations (dollars per share)	$ 1.29	$ 0.94
Basic earnings (loss) per share, discontinued operations (dollars per share)	0.00	(0.05)
Basic earnings per share (dollars per share)	1.29	0.89
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Diluted earnings (loss) per share, continuing operations (dollars per share)	1.26	0.93
Diluted earnings (loss) per share, discontinued operations (dollars per share)	0.00	(0.05)
Diluted earnings per share (dollars per share)	$ 1.26	$ 0.88