Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126954810&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126905981&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of an equity method investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126954810&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(7)(c))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126953954&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(b)(9)(a))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126953954&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investment.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 10
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126970911&loc=d3e27405-111563

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c),9(a))
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126953954&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/recommendedDisclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126954810&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) from sale and disposal of integrated set of activities and assets capable of being conducted and managed for purpose of providing return in form of dividend, lower cost, or other economic benefit to investor, owner, member and participant.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of restructuring charges, remediation cost, and asset impairment loss.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.3)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=126953954&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Incremental expenses on gains from marketable securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wor_IncrementalExpensesOnGainsFromMarketableSecurities
Namespace Prefix:	wor_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Non cash settlement charge.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wor_NonCashSettlementCharge
Namespace Prefix:	wor_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Noncontrolling interest portion of restructuring (charges) gains.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wor_NoncontrollingInterestPortionOfRestructuringChargesGains
Namespace Prefix:	wor_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Separation costs.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wor_SeparationCosts
Namespace Prefix:	wor_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=wor_ConsolidatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=wor_NikolaCorpMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_WorthingtonArmstrongVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_ArtiFlexMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment Data - Financial Information for Reportable Segments (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	Aug. 03, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring (charges) gains		$ 4,785	$ (295)
Gains on investment in Nikola			(655,102)
Impairment charge	$ 2,596	$ 3,076	13,739
Non-cash settlement charge	4,774
Loss on sale of equity investments	16,059
Separation costs	24,048
Pre-tax gain on sale of joint venture facility	2,063
Impairment and restructuring expense (income)	1,734
Consolidated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Separation costs	$ 24,048
Nikola Corporation
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gains on investment in Nikola			655,102
Incremental expenses on gains from marketable securities			$ 50,624
WAVE
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
noncontrolling equity investment	50.00%
ArtiFlex
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Loss on sale of equity investments	$ (16,059)
noncontrolling equity investment	50.00%			50.00%