Goodwill, Service Contracts and Other Assets - Information Regarding Segment Realignment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 31, 2017	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 2,782,335	$ 1,276,076	$ 1,180,094
Operating Segments \| Uniform Rental and Facility Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,448,070	949,730	940,423
Operating Segments \| First Aid and Safety Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	243,112	241,448	154,954
Operating Segments \| All Other
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 91,153	$ 84,898	$ 84,717

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant