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, 2015		28,907
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2015	$ 863,489		$ 295,444	$ 458,599	$ (21,205)	$ 732,838	$ 130,651
Net earnings	98,713			69,433		69,433	29,280
Other comprehensive loss, net	(9,527)				(9,454)	(9,454)	(73)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	262						262
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(4)						(4)
Joint venture partner distribution declared	(17,606)						(17,606)
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		212
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	(3,469)		(3,469)			(3,469)
Unamortized restricted stock	(603)		(603)			(603)
Restricted stock amortization	5,301		5,301			5,301
Excess tax benefit from restricted stock awards	2,827		2,827			2,827
Cash dividends	(5,850)			(5,850)		(5,850)
Repurchase of stock	(19,078)		(19,078)			(19,078)
Repurchase of stock, shares		(522)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2015		28,597
Ending Balance at Nov. 30, 2015	$ 914,455		280,422	522,182	(30,659)	771,945	142,510
Beginning balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2016	28,205	28,205
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2016	$ 1,016,827		282,886	618,178	(26,753)	874,311	142,516
Net earnings	47,966			24,962		24,962	23,004
Other comprehensive loss, net	(11,302)				(11,302)	(11,302)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	(3,781)						(3,781)
Joint venture partner distribution declared	(10,702)						(10,702)
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		163
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	(2,945)		(2,945)			(2,945)
Unamortized restricted stock	125		125			125
Restricted stock amortization	4,152		4,152			4,152
Tax deficiency from restricted stock awards	(2,464)		(2,464)			(2,464)
Cash dividends	$ (6,114)			(6,114)		(6,114)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2016	28,368	28,368
Ending Balance at Nov. 30, 2016	$ 1,031,762		$ 281,754	$ 637,026	$ (38,055)	$ 880,725	$ 151,037