XML 50 R1.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Document and Entity Information Document
6 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015
Apr. 02, 2015
Entity Information [Line Items]    
Document Type 10-Q  
Amendment Flag false  
Document Period End Date Feb. 28, 2015  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2015  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q2  
Entity Registrant Name SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES INC  
Entity Central Index Key 0000912603  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --08-31  
Entity Filer Category Large Accelerated Filer  
Class A Common Stock    
Entity Information [Line Items]    
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   26,480,095dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Class B Common Stock    
Entity Information [Line Items]    
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   305,900dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember