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, 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
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (1,833)	(1,833)		(1,833)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						21,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	38,000
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		4,881					4,881		4,881
Dividend paid to stockholders					(10,645)		(10,645)		(10,645)
Dividend payable to stockholders					(10,652)		(10,652)		(10,652)
Net income					36,638		36,638		36,638
Other comprehensive income (loss)				3,809			3,809		3,809
Balance at Feb. 28, 2018	$ 3	427,545	11,486	(106,250)	436,207	$ (37,757)	731,234		731,234
Balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2018	31,311,000					896,000
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
Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 3	432,882	11,486	(121,216)	473,954	$ (39,107)	758,002	$ 636	$ 758,638
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018	31,373,000					912,000			30,460,353
Balance at Nov. 30, 2017	$ 3	424,856	11,486	(111,468)	443,356	$ (35,924)	732,309		$ 732,309
Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2017	31,279,000					875,000
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (1,833)	(1,833)		(1,833)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						21,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	35,000
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		2,420					2,420		2,420
Dividend paid to stockholders					(10,645)		(10,645)		(10,645)
Dividend payable to stockholders					(10,652)		(10,652)		(10,652)
Net income					14,148		14,148		14,148
Other comprehensive income (loss)				5,218			5,218		5,218
Balance at Feb. 28, 2018	$ 3	427,545	11,486	(106,250)	436,207	$ (37,757)	731,234		731,234
Balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2018	31,311,000					896,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 3	432,882	11,486	(121,216)	473,954	$ (39,107)	758,002	636	$ 758,638
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018	31,373,000					912,000			30,460,353
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (2,417)	(2,417)		$ (2,417)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						39,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	76,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(2,000)
Stock-based compensation		9,391					9,391		9,391
Dividend paid to stockholders					(10,672)		(10,672)	(313)	(10,985)
Dividend payable to stockholders					(10,672)		(10,672)		(10,672)
Net income					38,422		38,422	86	38,508
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(8,894)			(8,894)	21	(8,873)
Balance at Feb. 28, 2019	$ 3	442,273	11,486	(130,110)	491,032	$ (41,524)	773,160	430	$ 773,590
Balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2019	31,447,000					951,000			30,495,712
Balance at Nov. 30, 2018	$ 3	438,928	11,486	(134,462)	488,566	$ (39,107)	765,414	668	$ 766,082
Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2018	31,405,000					912,000
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (2,417)	(2,417)		(2,417)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						39,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	44,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(2,000)
Exercise of stock options
Exercise of stock options (in shares)
Stock-based compensation		3,345					3,345		3,345
Dividend paid to stockholders					(10,672)		(10,672)	(313)	(10,985)
Dividend payable to stockholders					(10,672)		(10,672)		(10,672)
Net income					23,810		23,810	53	23,863
Other comprehensive income (loss)				4,352			4,352	22	4,374
Balance at Feb. 28, 2019	$ 3	$ 442,273	$ 11,486	$ (130,110)	$ 491,032	$ (41,524)	$ 773,160	$ 430	$ 773,590
Balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2019	31,447,000					951,000			30,495,712