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 Feb. 28, 2018									$ 25,637
Net earnings									(915)
Beginning balance at Feb. 28, 2018			$ 444,962	$ 840,478	$ (27,622)	$ 1,257,818	$ 145,459	$ 1,403,277
Beginning balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2018		32,379
Net earnings				15,248		15,248	11,514	26,762
Other comprehensive loss, net					(6,498)	(6,498)	(9)	(6,507)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments							2,016	2,016
Joint venture partner distribution declared							(4,064)	(4,064)
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		105
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)			38			38		38
Restricted stock amortization			4,002			4,002		4,002
Cash dividends				(8,293)		(8,293)		(8,293)
Ending balance at May. 31, 2019			449,002	847,433	(34,120)	1,262,315	154,916	1,417,231
Ending Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2019		32,484
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2019									24,722
Cumulative effect adjustment due to adoption of ASU				5,461		5,461		5,461
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2018									29,768
Net earnings									(5,046)
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
Net earnings	$ 55,012			35,969		35,969	24,089	60,058
Other comprehensive loss, net	(10,784)				(10,754)	(10,754)	(30)	(10,784)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments							7,322	7,322
Joint venture partner distribution declared							(12,494)	(12,494)
Noncontrolling interest acquired							1,915	1,915
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		293
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)			12,721			12,721		12,721
Unamortized restricted stock			(17,445)			(17,445)		(17,445)
Restricted stock amortization			11,157			11,157		11,157
Cash dividends				(24,895)		(24,895)		(24,895)
Ending balance at May. 31, 2019			449,002	847,433	(34,120)	1,262,315	154,916	1,417,231
Ending Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2019		32,484
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2019									24,722
Cumulative effect adjustment due to adoption of ASU				4,393		4,393		4,393
Beginning balance at Aug. 31, 2019									31,564
Net earnings									(953)
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
Net earnings	$ 79,895			49,070		49,070	31,778	80,848
Other comprehensive loss, net	(18,260)				(18,251)	(18,251)	(9)	(18,260)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments							2,826	2,826
Joint venture partner distribution declared							(34,751)	(34,751)
Noncontrolling interest acquired							12,075	12,075
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		213
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)			6,797			6,797		6,797
Unamortized restricted stock			(9,063)			(9,063)		(9,063)
Restricted stock amortization			7,991			7,991		7,991
Cash dividends				(26,446)		(26,446)		(26,446)
Ending balance at May. 31, 2020	$ 1,468,107		459,668	894,619	(63,066)	1,291,221	176,886	1,468,107
Ending Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2020	32,701	32,701
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2020									30,611
Beginning balance at Feb. 29, 2020									30,782
Net earnings									(171)
Beginning balance at Feb. 29, 2020			458,908	875,885	(48,321)	1,286,472	201,410	1,487,882
Beginning balance (in shares) at Feb. 29, 2020		32,642
Net earnings	$ 35,869			27,772		27,772	8,268	36,040
Other comprehensive loss, net	(14,746)				(14,745)	(14,745)	(1)	(14,746)
Noncontrolling interest adjustments							(6,212)	(6,212)
Joint venture partner distribution declared							(26,579)	(26,579)
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations) (in shares)		59
Restricted stock awards (net of cancellations)			(4,317)			(4,317)		(4,317)
Unamortized restricted stock			3,945			3,945		3,945
Restricted stock amortization			1,132			1,132		1,132
Cash dividends				(9,038)		(9,038)		(9,038)
Ending balance at May. 31, 2020	$ 1,468,107		$ 459,668	$ 894,619	$ (63,066)	$ 1,291,221	$ 176,886	$ 1,468,107
Ending Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2020	32,701	32,701
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2020									$ 30,611