Equities Changes in Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Feb. 28, 2021	Feb. 29, 2020
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 8,785,856	$ 8,819,173	$ 8,622,916	$ 8,617,530	$ 8,819,173	$ 8,617,530
Reversal of prior year patronage and redemption estimates	26,135	7,726	93,387	5,447
patronage refund	(21,416)		(90,030)
Redemptions of equities	(4,760)	(7,726)	(3,387)	(5,447)
Preferred stock dividends	(42,167)	(84,334)	(42,167)	(84,334)
ASC Topic 842 cumulative effect adjustment				33,707
Other, net	666	(8,661)	(512)	(949)
Net income (loss)	(38,358)	69,369	125,694	178,737	31,011	304,431
Net income (loss) attributable to CHS Inc.	(38,229)		125,447		31,442	303,329
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(129)		247		(431)	1,102
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,549	8,917	(10,585)	(1,638)	11,466	(12,223)
Estimated 2021 cash patronage refunds	5,639	(9,304)	(22,206)	(28,504)
Estimated 2021 equity redemptions	5,639	(9,304)	(49,154)	(91,633)
Ending Balance	8,719,783	8,785,856	8,623,956	8,622,916	8,719,783	8,623,956
Capital equity certificates [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3,715,416	3,724,187	3,662,578	3,753,493	3,724,187	3,753,493
Reversal of prior year patronage and redemption estimates	4,760	7,726	3,387	5,447
Redemptions of equities	(4,177)	(6,539)	(2,998)	(4,721)
Other, net	(26)	(654)	(201)	(8)
Estimated 2021 equity redemptions	5,639	(9,304)	(49,154)	(91,633)
Ending Balance	3,721,612	3,715,416	3,613,612	3,662,578	3,721,612	3,613,612
Nonpatronage Equity Certificates [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	28,649	28,727	29,020	29,074	28,727	29,074
Reversal of prior year patronage and redemption estimates	0	0	0	0
Redemptions of equities	(35)	(31)	(20)	(54)
Other, net		(47)
Ending Balance	28,614	28,649	29,000	29,020	28,614	29,000
Non-qualified Equity Certificates [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,407,343	1,408,696	1,205,599	1,206,310	1,408,696	1,206,310
Reversal of prior year patronage and redemption estimates	(211,970)	0	(472,398)	0
patronage refund	214,720		474,066
Redemptions of equities	(548)	(1,156)	(369)	(672)
Other, net	(15)	(197)	3	(39)
Ending Balance	1,409,530	1,407,343	1,206,901	1,205,599	1,409,530	1,206,901
Preferred Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	2,264,038	2,264,038	2,264,038	2,264,038	2,264,038	2,264,038
Redemptions of equities	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	2,264,038	2,264,038	2,264,038	2,264,038	2,264,038	2,264,038
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(225,007)	(233,924)	(228,571)	(226,933)	(233,924)	(226,933)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,549	8,917	(10,585)	(1,638)
Ending Balance	(222,458)	(225,007)	(239,156)	(228,571)	(222,458)	(239,156)
Capital Reserves [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,586,382	1,618,147	1,681,597	1,584,158	1,618,147	1,584,158
Reversal of prior year patronage and redemption estimates	233,345	0	562,398	0
patronage refund	(236,136)		(564,096)
Preferred stock dividends	(42,167)	(84,334)	(42,167)	(84,334)
Other, net	1,068	(7,798)	10	(1,312)
Net income (loss) attributable to CHS Inc.	(38,229)	69,671	125,447	177,882
Estimated 2021 cash patronage refunds	5,639	(9,304)	(22,206)	(28,504)
Ending Balance	1,509,902	1,586,382	1,740,983	1,681,597	1,509,902	1,740,983
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	9,035	9,302	8,655	7,390	9,302	7,390
Other, net	(361)	35	(324)	410
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(129)	(302)	247	855
Ending Balance	$ 8,545	$ 9,035	$ 8,578	8,655	$ 8,545	$ 8,578
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Capital equity certificates [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASC Topic 842 cumulative effect adjustment				0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Nonpatronage Equity Certificates [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASC Topic 842 cumulative effect adjustment				0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Non-qualified Equity Certificates [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASC Topic 842 cumulative effect adjustment				0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASC Topic 842 cumulative effect adjustment				0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASC Topic 842 cumulative effect adjustment				0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Capital Reserves [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASC Topic 842 cumulative effect adjustment				33,707
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASC Topic 842 cumulative effect adjustment				$ 0