Consolidated Statements Of Equity And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total USD ($)	Common Stock Shares	Additional Paid-in Capital USD ($)	Retained Earnings USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) USD ($)	Total Attributable to Greenbrier USD ($)	Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest USD ($)
Beginning Balance at Aug. 31, 2009	$ 232,450		$ 117,077	$ 116,439	$ (9,790)	$ 223,726	$ 8,724
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2009		17,094,000
Net earnings	8,331			4,277		4,277	4,054
Translation adjustment	(3,831)				(3,831)	(3,831)
Pension adjustment (net of tax effect)	6,810				6,810	6,810
Reclassification of derivative financial instruments recognized in net earnings (net of tax effect of $1.3 million in 2012)	(878)				(878)	(878)
Unrealized gain on derivative financial instruments (net of tax effect of $0.3 million in 2012)	485				485	485
Comprehensive income	10,917					6,863	4,054
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	(1,309)						(1,309)
ASC 470-20 adjustment for partial convertible note retirement (net of tax)	(2,535)		(2,535)			(2,535)
Net proceeds from equity offering (in shares)		4,500,000
Net proceeds from equity offering	52,708		52,708			52,708
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		274,000
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	3,210		3,210			3,210
Unamortized restricted stock	(3,210)		(3,210)			(3,210)
Restricted stock amortization	5,825		5,825			5,825
Stock options exercised (in shares)	6,660	7,000
Stock options exercised	29		29			29
Excess tax benefit from restricted stock awards	(678)		(678)			(678)
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2010	297,407		172,426	120,716	(7,204)	285,938	11,469
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2010		21,875,000
Net earnings	8,387			6,466		6,466	1,921
Translation adjustment	2,205				2,205	2,205
Pension adjustment (net of tax effect)	(6)				(6)	(6)
Reclassification of derivative financial instruments recognized in net earnings (net of tax effect of $1.3 million in 2012)	(1,029)				(1,029)	(1,029)
Unrealized gain on derivative financial instruments (net of tax effect of $0.3 million in 2012)	(1,861)				(1,861)	(1,861)
Comprehensive income	7,696					5,775	1,921
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	938						938
Net proceeds from equity offering (in shares)		3,000,000
Net proceeds from equity offering	62,760		62,760			62,760
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		306,000
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	7,197		7,197			7,197
Unamortized restricted stock	(7,197)		(7,197)			(7,197)
Restricted stock amortization	7,073		7,073			7,073
Stock options exercised (in shares)	5,500	5,000
Stock options exercised	27		27			27
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2011	375,901		242,286	127,182	(7,895)	361,573	14,328
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2011		25,186,000
Net earnings	61,170			58,708		58,708	2,462
Translation adjustment	(4,168)				(4,040)	(4,040)	(128)
Pension adjustment (net of tax effect)	(130)				(130)	(130)
Reclassification of derivative financial instruments recognized in net earnings (net of tax effect of $1.3 million in 2012)	4,988				4,988	4,988
Unrealized gain on derivative financial instruments (net of tax effect of $0.3 million in 2012)	708				708	708
Comprehensive income	62,568					60,234	2,334
Investment by joint venture partner	3,844						1,362
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	1,362						3,844
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		461,000
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	9,392		9,392			9,392
Unamortized restricted stock	(9,392)		(9,392)			(9,392)
Restricted stock amortization	8,343		8,343			8,343
Warrants exercised		1,496,000
Excess tax benefit from restricted stock awards	1,627		1,627			1,627
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2012	$ 453,645		$ 252,256	$ 185,890	$ (6,369)	$ 431,777	$ 21,868
Ending Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2012		27,143,000