Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock Shares	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Equity - Greenbrier	Noncontrolling Interest	Equity Excluding Contingently Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	Contingently Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2018									$ 29,768
Net earnings									(4,131)
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2018			$ 442,569	$ 830,898	$ (23,366)	$ 1,250,101	$ 134,114	$ 1,384,215
Beginning balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018		32,191
Cumulative effect adjustment due to adoption of ASU at Aug. 31, 2018				5,461		5,461		5,461
Net earnings	$ 29,165			20,721		20,721	12,575	33,296
Other comprehensive loss, net	(4,277)				(4,256)	(4,256)	(21)	(4,277)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments							5,306	5,306
Joint venture partner distribution declared							(8,430)	(8,430)
Noncontrolling interest acquired							1,915	1,915
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		188
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)			12,683			12,683		12,683
Unamortized restricted stock			(17,445)			(17,445)		(17,445)
Restricted stock amortization			7,155			7,155		7,155
Cash dividends				(16,602)		(16,602)		(16,602)
Ending balance at Feb. 28, 2019			444,962	840,478	(27,622)	1,257,818	145,459	1,403,277
Ending Balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2019		32,379
Ending Balance at Feb. 28, 2019									25,637
Beginning balance at Nov. 30, 2018									28,449
Net earnings									(2,812)
Beginning balance at Nov. 30, 2018			440,958	846,018	(29,345)	1,257,631	141,590	1,399,221
Beginning balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2018		32,350
Net earnings	5,783			2,765		2,765	5,830	8,595
Other comprehensive loss, net	1,717				1,723	1,723	(6)	1,717
Noncontrolling interest adjustments							1,387	1,387
Joint venture partner distribution declared							(5,257)	(5,257)
Noncontrolling interest acquired							1,915	1,915
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		29
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)			1,267			1,267		1,267
Unamortized restricted stock			(1,282)			(1,282)		(1,282)
Restricted stock amortization			4,019			4,019		4,019
Cash dividends				(8,305)		(8,305)		(8,305)
Ending balance at Feb. 28, 2019			444,962	840,478	(27,622)	1,257,818	145,459	1,403,277
Ending Balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2019		32,379
Ending Balance at Feb. 28, 2019									25,637
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2019									31,564
Net earnings									(782)
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2019	$ 1,441,697		453,943	867,602	(44,815)	1,276,730	164,967	1,441,697
Beginning balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2019	32,488	32,488
Cumulative effect adjustment due to adoption of ASU at Aug. 31, 2019				4,393		4,393		4,393
Net earnings	$ 44,026			21,298		21,298	23,510	44,808
Other comprehensive loss, net	(3,514)				(3,506)	(3,506)	(8)	(3,514)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments							9,038	9,038
Joint venture partner distribution declared							(8,172)	(8,172)
Noncontrolling interest acquired							12,075	12,075
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		154
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)			11,114			11,114		11,114
Unamortized restricted stock			(13,008)			(13,008)		(13,008)
Restricted stock amortization			6,859			6,859		6,859
Cash dividends				(17,408)		(17,408)		(17,408)
Ending balance at Feb. 29, 2020	$ 1,487,882		458,908	875,885	(48,321)	1,286,472	201,410	1,487,882
Ending Balance (in shares) at Feb. 29, 2020	32,642	32,642
Ending Balance at Feb. 29, 2020									30,782
Beginning balance at Nov. 30, 2019									31,723
Net earnings									(941)
Beginning balance at Nov. 30, 2019			454,900	871,300	(44,392)	1,281,808	191,050	1,472,858
Beginning balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2019		32,596
Net earnings	$ 20,015			13,629		13,629	7,327	20,956
Other comprehensive loss, net	(3,931)				(3,929)	(3,929)	(2)	(3,931)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments							7,302	7,302
Joint venture partner distribution declared							(4,267)	(4,267)
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		46
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)			1,642			1,642		1,642
Unamortized restricted stock			(1,667)			(1,667)		(1,667)
Restricted stock amortization			4,033			4,033		4,033
Cash dividends				(9,044)		(9,044)		(9,044)
Ending balance at Feb. 29, 2020	$ 1,487,882		$ 458,908	$ 875,885	$ (48,321)	$ 1,286,472	$ 201,410	$ 1,487,882
Ending Balance (in shares) at Feb. 29, 2020	32,642	32,642
Ending Balance at Feb. 29, 2020									$ 30,782