Debt and Derivatives - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2019 USD ($) contract	May 31, 2018 USD ($) contract	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 24, 2019 USD ($) extension	May 23, 2019 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate	3.70%
Long-term debt, carrying amount	$ 2,537,507,000	$ 2,535,309,000
Proceeds from issuance of commercial paper	112,500,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount	120,600,000	143,000,000
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Maturities of long term debt, next twelve months	312,500,000
Maturities of long term debt, year two	0
Maturities of long term debt, year three	900,000,000
Maturities of long term debt, year four	350,000,000
Maturities of long term debt, year five	0
Interest paid	101,800,000	122,100,000	$ 76,600,000
Payments of financing costs	0	0	17,062,000
Commercial paper	112,500,000	0
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	0	0
Amortization of cash flow hedges	1,179,000	$ 933,000	(1,076,000)
Interest rate lock agreements	$ 36,400,000
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Number of derivative instruments held | contract	0	0
Other comprehensive Income
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Amortization of cash flow hedges	$ (1,200,000)	$ (900,000)	1,100,000
Commercial paper
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Average interest rate	2.70%
G & K Services
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Payments of financing costs			$ 17,100,000
Senior notes | Treasury Lock | Designated as Hedging Instrument | Cash Flow Hedging
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Notional amount	$ 500,000,000
Term Notes Due Through 2037 | Unsecured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, carrying amount	2,866,200,000	2,550,000,000
Long-term debt, fair value	2,998,700,000	$ 2,582,000,000
Credit agreement
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of credit facility, accordion feature, increase limit (up to)				$ 250,000,000.0
Number of annual extension options | extension				4
Credit agreement | Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity with accordion feature				$ 1,000,000,000.0	$ 600,000,000.0
Credit agreement | Term loan
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Revolving credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity with accordion feature	$ 200,000,000.0			$ 200,000,000.0