SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($) warehouse country		Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of stores | warehouse		41
Number of countries | country		13
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		$ 3,166,702		$ 2,996,628	$ 2,905,176
Depreciation, Property and equipment		51,520		46,292	39,794
Depreciation and amortization		52,640		46,292	39,794
Amortization, Intangibles		1,120
Operating income (loss)		126,052		136,229	136,723
Interest income from intersegment sources		1,415		1,809	1,307
Interest expense from intersegment sources		5,072		6,777	5,891
Provision for income taxes		48,177		42,018	42,849
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		74,328		90,724	88,723
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		657,062		616,090	536,286
Goodwill and other intangibles, net		61,309		35,600			$ 27,300
Intangibles, net		14,980
Goodwill		46,329		35,642	35,637
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		10,758		10,765	10,767
Total assets		1,216,392		1,177,514	1,096,735
Capital expenditures, net		95,850		137,024	79,694
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest		75
United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		57,445		34,244	33,885
Depreciation, Property and equipment		7,373
Depreciation and amortization				6,653	4,775
Amortization, Intangibles		1,120
Operating income (loss)		2,016		10,436	10,970
Interest income from intersegment sources		25		13	25
Interest expense from intersegment sources		1,465		762
Provision for income taxes		19,977		9,560	10,047
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		(19,811)	[1]	3,893	935
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		67,650		70,353	19,222
Intangibles, net		14,980
Goodwill		11,230
Total assets		186,174		147,650	100,744
Capital expenditures, net		2,252		56,229	8,617
Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		1,839,810		1,789,889	1,758,853
Depreciation, Property and equipment		23,391
Depreciation and amortization				20,252	18,673
Operating income (loss)		130,849		134,826	135,232
Interest income from intersegment sources		487		914	802
Interest expense from intersegment sources		3,210		4,127	4,823
Provision for income taxes		20,767		23,368	23,227
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		107,401		107,797	107,396
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		320,612		296,915	271,039
Goodwill		30,646		31,118	31,091
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		10,758		10,765	10,767
Total assets		536,756		544,683	515,478
Capital expenditures, net		50,982		50,977	29,375
Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		879,423		827,920	840,648
Depreciation, Property and equipment		11,596
Depreciation and amortization				10,205	9,907
Operating income (loss)		48,383		47,190	51,450
Interest income from intersegment sources		767		740	381
Interest expense from intersegment sources		(353)		548	547
Provision for income taxes		5,624		7,654	8,697
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		44,178		38,403	43,114
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		150,516		122,616	108,426
Goodwill		4,453		4,524	4,546
Total assets		310,411		303,234	287,088
Capital expenditures, net		39,379		26,586	11,402
Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		390,024		344,575	271,790
Depreciation, Property and equipment		9,160
Depreciation and amortization				9,182	6,439
Operating income (loss)		12,086		4,932	(5,403)
Interest income from intersegment sources		136		142	99
Interest expense from intersegment sources		750		1,340	521
Provision for income taxes		1,809		1,436	878
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		9,917		1,786	(7,196)
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		118,284		126,206	137,599
Total assets		183,051		181,947	193,425
Capital expenditures, net		3,237		3,232	30,300
Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue	[2]	(1,189,995)		(1,143,432)	(1,092,618)
Interest income from intersegment sources	[2]	(2,722)		(2,167)	(4,017)
Interest expense from intersegment sources	[2]	(2,637)		(2,172)	(4,023)
Intersegment [Member] | United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		1,184,530		1,138,526	1,086,677
Interest income from intersegment sources		747		739	2,519
Interest expense from intersegment sources		16		42	61
Intersegment [Member] | Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Interest income from intersegment sources		1,245		882	944
Interest expense from intersegment sources		1,042		1,106	2,059
Intersegment [Member] | Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		4,472		4,796	5,941
Interest income from intersegment sources		730		546	554
Interest expense from intersegment sources		1,576		990	1,854
Intersegment [Member] | Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		993		110
Interest expense from intersegment sources		3		34	49
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Operating income (loss)	[2]	(67,282)		(61,155)	(55,526)
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[2]	(67,357)		(61,155)	$ (55,526)
Goodwill	[2]			$ 0
Aeropost, Inc [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Goodwill		11,230				$ 4,800
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest		$ (9,800)
Aeropost, Inc [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries | country		38

[1] On March 15, 2018, the Company acquired Aeropost, Inc. During fiscal year 2018, the consolidated net income attributable to PriceSmart Inc. contained approximately $9.8 million in losses associated with our Aeropost operations and acquisition-related expense.

[2] The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions.