Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Shares	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total Attributable to Greenbrier	Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2014		27,364
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2014	$ 573,721		$ 235,763	$ 282,559	$ (6,932)	$ 511,390	$ 62,331
Net earnings	167,353			125,948		125,948	41,405
Other comprehensive loss, net	(10,481)				(10,329)	(10,329)	(152)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	20,371						20,371
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(80)						(80)
Joint venture partner distribution declared	(13,267)						(13,267)
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	22,600		22,600			22,600
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)(Shares)		19
Unamortized restricted stock	(24,394)		(24,394)			(24,394)
Restricted stock amortization	13,176		13,176			13,176
Excess tax benefit from restricted stock awards	2,964		2,964			2,964
Conversion of convertible notes, net of debt issuance costs (in shares)		2,471
Conversion of convertible notes, net of debt issuance costs	91,749		91,749			91,749
Cash dividends	(12,257)			(12,257)		(12,257)
Repurchase of stock	(48,451)		(48,451)			(48,451)
Repurchase of stock, shares		(891)
Ending Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2015		28,925
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2015	$ 783,004		293,407	396,250	(17,261)	672,396	110,608
Beginning balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2015	28,907	28,907
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2015	$ 863,489		295,444	458,599	(21,205)	732,838	130,651
Net earnings	224,461			149,653		149,653	74,808
Other comprehensive loss, net	(8,361)				(8,314)	(8,314)	(47)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	837						837
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(4)						(4)
Joint venture partner distribution declared	(61,855)						(61,855)
Investment by joint venture partner	5,400						5,400
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	6,186		6,186			6,186
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)(Shares)		350
Unamortized restricted stock	(11,646)		(11,646)			(11,646)
Restricted stock amortization	18,483		18,483			18,483
Excess tax benefit from restricted stock awards	2,786		2,786			2,786
Cash dividends	(17,527)			(17,527)		(17,527)
Repurchase of stock	$ (32,373)		(32,373)			(32,373)
Repurchase of stock, shares		(1,055)
Ending Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2016	28,202	28,202
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2016	$ 989,876		$ 278,880	$ 590,725	$ (29,519)	$ 840,086	$ 149,790