Operating Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2019	May 31, 2018	May 31, 2017	Jun. 01, 2018
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									$ 6,892,303	$ 6,476,632	$ 5,323,381
Gross margin	$ 823,565	$ 755,153	$ 775,158	$ 774,712	$ 752,338	$ 700,463	$ 716,369	$ 739,353	3,128,588	2,908,523	2,380,295
Selling and administrative expenses									1,980,644	1,916,792	1,527,380
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									14,410	41,897	79,224
Gain on sale of a cost method investment									69,373	0	0
Interest expense, net									100,508	108,833	86,287
Income before income taxes									1,102,399	841,001	687,404
Depreciation and amortization									360,093	279,416	196,595
Capital expenditures									276,719	271,699	273,317
Total assets	7,436,662				6,958,214				7,436,662	6,958,214	6,844,057	$ 7,211,341
Operating Segments | Uniform rental and facility services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									5,552,430	5,247,124	4,202,490
Gross margin									2,524,831	2,360,165	1,894,716
Selling and administrative expenses									1,533,711	1,500,644	1,138,345
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									14,410	41,897	79,224
Gain on sale of a cost method investment									0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									976,710	817,624	677,147
Depreciation and amortization									301,328	236,773	156,998
Capital expenditures									220,373	225,694	232,832
Total assets	6,442,461				5,977,314				6,442,461	5,977,314	5,801,680
Operating Segments | First Aid and Safety Services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									619,470	564,706	508,233
Gross margin									297,074	265,785	230,166
Selling and administrative expenses									206,990	190,567	177,378
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									0	0	0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment									0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									90,084	75,218	52,788
Depreciation and amortization									36,824	21,898	19,962
Capital expenditures									36,783	27,932	26,863
Total assets	504,920				471,165				504,920	471,165	444,717
Operating Segments | All Other
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									720,403	664,802	612,658
Gross margin									306,683	282,573	255,413
Selling and administrative expenses									239,943	225,581	211,657
G&K Services, Inc. transaction and integration expenses									0	0	0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment									0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									66,740	56,992	43,756
Depreciation and amortization									21,941	20,745	17,905
Capital expenditures									19,563	18,073	12,645
Total assets	392,636				371,011				392,636	371,011	367,562
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	0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment									69,373
Interest expense, net									100,508	108,833	86,287
Income before income taxes									(31,135)	(108,833)	(86,287)
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	1,730
Capital expenditures									0	0	977
Total assets	$ 96,645				$ 138,724				$ 96,645	$ 138,724	$ 230,098