Operating Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	May 31, 2018	May 31, 2017	May 31, 2016
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue	$ 1,669,550	$ 1,589,138	$ 1,606,441	$ 1,611,503	$ 1,530,287	$ 1,255,367	$ 1,271,077	$ 1,266,650	$ 6,476,632	$ 5,323,381	$ 4,795,772
Gross margin	752,338	$ 700,463	$ 716,369	$ 739,353	678,726	$ 559,924	$ 565,218	$ 576,427	2,908,523	2,380,295	2,101,340
Selling and administrative expenses									1,916,792	1,527,380	1,332,399
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									41,897	79,224
Interest expense, net									108,833	86,287	63,626
Income before income taxes									841,001	687,404	705,315
Depreciation and amortization									279,416	196,595	165,279
Capital expenditures									271,699	273,317	275,385
Total assets	6,958,214				6,844,057				6,958,214	6,844,057	4,098,815
Operating Segments | Uniform Rental and Facility Services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									5,247,124	4,202,490	3,759,524
Gross margin									2,360,165	1,894,716	1,666,691
Selling and administrative expenses									1,500,644	1,138,345	994,590
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									41,897	79,224
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									817,624	677,147	672,101
Depreciation and amortization									236,773	156,998	130,421
Capital expenditures									225,694	232,832	237,871
Total assets	5,977,314				5,801,680				5,977,314	5,801,680	3,104,822
Operating Segments | First Aid and Safety Services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									564,706	508,233	461,783
Gross margin									265,785	230,166	197,010
Selling and administrative expenses									190,567	177,378	147,503
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									0	0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									75,218	52,788	49,507
Depreciation and amortization									21,898	19,962	16,021
Capital expenditures									27,932	26,863	22,364
Total assets	471,165				444,717				471,165	444,717	421,697
Operating Segments | All Other
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									664,802	612,658	574,465
Gross margin									282,573	255,413	237,639
Selling and administrative expenses									225,581	211,657	190,306
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									0	0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									56,992	43,756	47,333
Depreciation and amortization									20,745	17,905	16,879
Capital expenditures									18,073	12,645	14,840
Total assets	371,011				367,562				371,011	367,562	322,474
Corporate
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									0	0	0
Gross margin									0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses									0	0	0
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									0	0
Interest expense, net									108,833	86,287	63,626
Income before income taxes									(108,833)	(86,287)	(63,626)
Depreciation and amortization									0	1,730	1,958
Capital expenditures									0	977	310
Total assets	$ 138,724				$ 230,098				$ 138,724	$ 230,098	$ 249,822