Supplemental Guarantor Information - Consolidating Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2017	Feb. 29, 2016
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Net income	$ 118,005			$ 117,341			$ 396,473	$ 562,622
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	2,400			(2,405)			(5,135)	(19,044)
Change in fair value of derivatives	2,560			(14,070)			16,913	(14,070)
Cumulative translation adjustment on investment in Shred-it	0			0			0	6,472
Amortization of interest rate lock agreements	385			488			1,155	1,464
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities	0			(7)			0	(25)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,345	$ 19,126	$ (11,538)	(15,994)	$ 2,324	$ (11,533)	12,933	(25,203)
Comprehensive income	123,350			101,347			409,406	537,419
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Net income	(117,593)			(119,062)			(392,917)	(566,739)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(2,400)			0			5,135	0
Change in fair value of derivatives	(2,560)			0			(16,913)	0
Cumulative translation adjustment on investment in Shred-it								0
Amortization of interest rate lock agreements	(385)			0			(1,155)	0
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities				0				0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,345)			0			(12,933)	0
Comprehensive income	(122,938)			(119,062)			(405,850)	(566,739)
Cintas Corporation
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Net income	118,005			117,341			396,473	562,622
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	2,400			0			(5,135)	0
Change in fair value of derivatives	2,560			0			16,913	0
Cumulative translation adjustment on investment in Shred-it								0
Amortization of interest rate lock agreements	385			0			1,155	0
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities				0				0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	5,345			0			12,933	0
Comprehensive income	123,350			117,341			409,406	562,622
Corp. 2
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Net income	37,609			42,285			136,484	347,625
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0			0			0	0
Change in fair value of derivatives	2,560			(14,070)			16,913	(14,070)
Cumulative translation adjustment on investment in Shred-it								5,875
Amortization of interest rate lock agreements	385			488			1,155	1,464
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities				0				0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,945			(13,582)			18,068	(6,731)
Comprehensive income	40,554			28,703			154,552	340,894
Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Net income	78,059			75,058			244,759	219,644
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0			0			0	0
Change in fair value of derivatives	0			0			0	0
Cumulative translation adjustment on investment in Shred-it								0
Amortization of interest rate lock agreements	0			0			0	0
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities				0				0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income	78,059			75,058			244,759	219,644
Non- Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements
Net income	1,925			1,719			11,674	(530)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	2,400			(2,405)			(5,135)	(19,044)
Change in fair value of derivatives	0			0			0	0
Cumulative translation adjustment on investment in Shred-it								597
Amortization of interest rate lock agreements	0			0			0	0
Change in fair value of available-for-sale securities				(7)				(25)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,400			(2,412)			(5,135)	(18,472)
Comprehensive income	$ 4,325			$ (693)			$ 6,539	$ (19,002)