Operating Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019	May 31, 2018
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									$ 7,085,120	$ 6,892,303	$ 6,476,632
Gross margin	$ 707,820	$ 824,395	$ 852,391	$ 849,142	$ 823,565	$ 755,153	$ 775,158	$ 774,712	3,233,748	3,128,588	2,908,523
Selling and administrative expenses									2,071,052	1,980,644	1,916,792
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses									0	14,410	41,897
Gain on sale of a cost method investment									0	69,373	0
Interest expense, net									104,405	100,508	108,833
Income before income taxes									1,058,291	1,102,399	841,001
Depreciation and amortization									379,053	360,093	279,416
Capital expenditures									230,289	276,719	271,699
Total assets	7,669,885				7,436,662				7,669,885	7,436,662	6,958,214
Operating Segments | Uniform rental and facility services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									5,643,494	5,552,430	5,247,124
Gross margin									2,588,349	2,524,831	2,360,165
Selling and administrative expenses									1,583,791	1,533,711	1,500,644
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses										14,410	41,897
Gain on sale of a cost method investment										0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									1,004,558	976,710	817,624
Depreciation and amortization									317,699	301,328	236,773
Capital expenditures									183,364	220,373	225,694
Total assets	6,531,673				6,442,461				6,531,673	6,442,461	5,977,314
Operating Segments | First Aid and Safety Services
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									708,569	619,470	564,706
Gross margin									338,661	297,074	265,785
Selling and administrative expenses									231,769	206,990	190,567
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses										0	0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment										0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									106,892	90,084	75,218
Depreciation and amortization									38,516	36,824	21,898
Capital expenditures									35,678	36,783	27,932
Total assets	611,205				504,920				611,205	504,920	471,165
Operating Segments | All Other
Disclosures related to operating segments
Revenue									733,057	720,403	664,802
Gross margin									306,738	306,683	282,573
Selling and administrative expenses									255,492	239,943	225,581
G&K Services, Inc. integration expenses										0	0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment										0
Interest expense, net									0	0	0
Income before income taxes									51,246	66,740	56,992
Depreciation and amortization									22,838	21,941	20,745
Capital expenditures									11,247	19,563	18,073
Total assets	381,605				392,636				381,605	392,636	371,011
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. integration expenses										0	0
Gain on sale of a cost method investment										69,373
Interest expense, net									104,405	100,508	108,833
Income before income taxes									(104,405)	(31,135)	(108,833)
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Capital expenditures									0	0	0
Total assets	$ 145,402				$ 96,645				$ 145,402	$ 96,645	$ 138,724