Supplemental Guarantor Information (Cash Flows Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 68,638	$ 61,277
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	38,277	37,362
Amortization of deferred charges	10,233	10,429
Stock-based compensation	4,522	3,046
Deferred income taxes	(7,808)	(2,538)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net	(10,142)	(13,747)
Inventories, net	(30,770)	(14,799)
Uniforms and other rental items in service	(11,124)	(15,483)
Prepaid expenses and other	(5,983)	(10,921)
Accounts payable	(9,329)	8,420
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	(27,611)	(21,350)
Accrued liabilities and other	(10,201)	(32,926)
Income taxes payable	47,860	26,528
Net cash provided by operating activities	56,562	35,298
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(44,421)	(48,200)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities	63,561	77,653
Purchase of marketable securities and investments	(107,145)	(6,416)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(870)	(47,824)
Other, net	6,539	(2,762)
Net cash used in investing activities	(82,336)	(27,549)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt		1,542
Repayment of debt	(444)	(148)
Repurchase of common stock	(262,639)	(131,336)
Other, net	926	2,181
Net cash used in financing activities	(262,157)	(127,761)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	137	(623)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(287,794)	(120,635)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	438,106	411,281
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	150,312	290,646
Cintas Corporation
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	68,638	61,277
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Stock-based compensation	4,522	3,046
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Net cash provided by operating activities	73,160	64,323
Cash flows from investing activities:
Other, net	188,930	67,013
Net cash used in investing activities	188,930	67,013
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of common stock	(262,639)	(131,336)
Other, net	549
Net cash used in financing activities	(262,090)	(131,336)
Corp. 2
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	31,893	11,329
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	23,365	23,432
Amortization of deferred charges	8,789	9,465
Deferred income taxes	(2)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net	(5,811)	88,575
Inventories, net	(29,331)	(13,520)
Uniforms and other rental items in service	(10,416)	(13,382)
Prepaid expenses and other	264	(341)
Accounts payable	(25,392)	(38,094)
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	(18,198)	(9,510)
Accrued liabilities and other	(11,479)	(14,735)
Income taxes payable	5,400	5,118
Net cash provided by operating activities	(30,918)	48,337
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(22,735)	(20,548)
Purchase of marketable securities and investments	(649)	(13,064)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(870)	(27,009)
Other, net	53,667	23,014
Net cash used in investing activities	29,413	(37,607)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt	(359)	(345)
Other, net	377	192
Net cash used in financing activities	18	(153)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(4)	11
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(1,491)	10,588
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	54,957	34,905
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	53,466	45,493
Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	38,708	54,969
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	11,711	11,409
Amortization of deferred charges	103	193
Deferred income taxes	(7,901)	(2,837)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net	(2,555)	(98,205)
Inventories, net	(4,800)	(2,253)
Uniforms and other rental items in service	(3,874)	(3,051)
Prepaid expenses and other	(6,316)	(9,383)
Accounts payable	11,474	33,613
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	(8,170)	(11,214)
Accrued liabilities and other	3,132	(26,025)
Income taxes payable	40,452	24,206
Net cash provided by operating activities	71,964	(28,578)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(18,184)	(26,305)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities		362
Purchase of marketable securities and investments	(7,743)	(13,729)
Other, net	(300,031)	(133,890)
Net cash used in investing activities	(325,958)	(173,562)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt		1,542
Repayment of debt	719	1,017
Net cash used in financing activities	719	2,559
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		193
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(253,275)	(199,388)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	313,283	339,702
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	60,008	140,314
Non-Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	4,872	98,556
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation	3,201	2,521
Amortization of deferred charges	1,341	771
Deferred income taxes	95	299
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net	(1,776)	(4,117)
Inventories, net	(164)	(498)
Uniforms and other rental items in service	(143)	(1,125)
Prepaid expenses and other	69	(1,197)
Accounts payable	4,589	12,901
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	(1,243)	(626)
Accrued liabilities and other	(2,658)	7,014
Income taxes payable	2,008	(2,796)
Net cash provided by operating activities	10,191	111,703
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(3,502)	(1,347)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities	63,561	77,291
Purchase of marketable securities and investments	(103,418)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired		(20,815)
Other, net	(1)	(99,829)
Net cash used in investing activities	(43,360)	(44,700)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Other, net		1,989
Net cash used in financing activities		1,989
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	141	(827)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(33,028)	68,165
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	69,866	36,674
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	36,838	104,839
Eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	(75,473)	(164,854)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Inventories, net	3,525	1,472
Uniforms and other rental items in service	3,309	2,075
Accrued liabilities and other	804	820
Net cash provided by operating activities	(67,835)	(160,487)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities and investments	4,665	20,377
Other, net	63,974	140,930
Net cash used in investing activities	68,639	161,307
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt	(804)	(820)
Net cash used in financing activities	$ (804)	$ (820)