Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	2024 Convertible Senior Notes	2024 Convertible Senior Notes Issuance Costs	Common Stock Shares	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital 2024 Convertible Senior Notes	Additional Paid-in Capital 2024 Convertible Senior Notes Issuance Costs	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total Attributable to Greenbrier	Total Attributable to Greenbrier 2024 Convertible Senior Notes	Total Attributable to Greenbrier 2024 Convertible Senior Notes Issuance Costs	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	164,929							114,301		114,301			50,628
Other comprehensive loss, net	(11,617)								(11,555)	(11,555)			(62)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	2,815												2,815
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(4)												(4)
Joint venture partner distribution declared	(52,774)												(52,774)
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)				242
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	(3,306)				(3,306)					(3,306)
Unamortized restricted stock	(789)				(789)					(789)
Restricted stock amortization	10,740				10,740					10,740
Excess tax benefit from restricted stock awards	2,786				2,786					2,786
Cash dividends	(11,702)							(11,702)		(11,702)
Repurchase of stock	(32,373)				(32,373)					(32,373)
Repurchase of stock, shares				(1,055)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Feb. 29, 2016				28,094
Ending Balance at Feb. 29, 2016	$ 932,194				272,502			561,198	(32,760)	800,940			131,254
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	96,967							59,498		59,498			37,469
Other comprehensive loss, net	(2,597)								(2,597)	(2,597)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments	(3,255)												(3,255)
Joint venture partner distribution declared	(18,783)												(18,783)
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)				195
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)	(1,876)				(1,876)					(1,876)
Unamortized restricted stock	(1,105)				(1,105)					(1,105)
Restricted stock amortization	8,437				8,437					8,437
Tax deficiency from restricted stock awards	(2,453)				(2,453)					(2,453)
Cash dividends	$ (12,234)							(12,234)		(12,234)
2024 Convertible Senior Notes - equity component, net of tax		$ 20,818	$ (715)			$ 20,818	$ (715)				$ 20,818	$ (715)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2017	28,400			28,400
Ending Balance at Feb. 28, 2017	$ 1,100,031				$ 305,992			$ 665,442	$ (29,350)	$ 942,084			$ 157,947