CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Tax Benefit From Stock Based Compensation [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Stockholder's Equity Attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Aug. 31, 2016	$ 3	$ 412,369	$ 11,321	$ (103,951)	$ 351,060	$ (32,731)	$ 638,071		$ 638,071
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2016	31,238,000					836,000
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (2,011)	(2,011)		(2,011)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						25,000
Issuance of restricted stock award
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	48,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(35,000)
Exercise of stock options		433					433		433
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	8,000
Stock-based compensation		7,328	231				7,559		7,559
Dividend paid to stockholders					(10,641)		(10,641)		(10,641)
Dividend payable to stockholders					(10,643)		(10,643)		(10,643)
Net income					70,926		70,926		70,926
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(4,307)			(4,307)		(4,307)
Balance at May. 31, 2017	$ 3	420,130	11,552	(108,258)	400,702	$ (34,742)	689,387		689,387
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2017	31,259,000					861,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2016	$ 3	412,369	11,321	(103,951)	351,060	$ (32,731)	638,071		638,071
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2016	31,238,000					836,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2017	$ 3	422,395	11,486	(110,059)	420,866	$ (35,924)	708,767		$ 708,767
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2017	31,276,000					875,000			30,400,742
Acquisition of Aeropost								$ 562	$ 562
Acquisition of Aeropost (in shares)
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (1,916)	(1,916)		(1,916)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						23,000
Issuance of restricted stock award
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	96,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(7,000)
Exercise of stock options		269					269		269
Exercise of stock options (in shares)	4,000
Stock-based compensation		7,469					7,469		7,469
Dividend paid to stockholders					(10,645)		(10,645)		(10,645)
Dividend payable to stockholders					(10,652)		(10,652)		(10,652)
Net income					55,332		55,332	22	55,354
Other comprehensive income (loss)				1,483			1,483	8	1,491
Balance at May. 31, 2018	$ 3	$ 430,133	$ 11,486	$ (108,576)	$ 454,901	$ (37,840)	$ 750,107	$ 592	$ 750,699
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2018	31,369,000					898,000			30,472,064