Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012		May 31, 2011		May 31, 2010
Net sales	$ 2,534,701,000		$ 2,442,624,000		$ 1,943,034,000
Cost of goods sold	2,201,833,000		2,086,467,000		1,663,104,000
Gross margin	332,868,000		356,157,000		279,930,000
Selling, general and administrative expense	225,069,000		235,198,000		218,315,000
Impairment of long-lived assets	355,000		4,386,000		35,409,000
Restructuring and other expense	5,984,000		2,653,000		4,243,000
Joint venture transactions	(150,000)		(10,436,000)
Operating income	101,610,000		124,356,000		21,963,000
Other income (expense):
Miscellaneous income	2,319,000		597,000		1,127,000
Interest expense	(19,497,000)		(18,756,000)		(9,534,000)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates	92,825,000		76,333,000		64,601,000
Earnings before income taxes	177,257,000		182,530,000		78,157,000
Income tax expense	51,904,000		58,496,000		26,650,000
Net earnings	125,353,000		124,034,000		51,507,000
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	9,758,000	[1]	8,968,000	[1]	6,266,000	[1]
Net earnings attributable to controlling interest	$ 115,595,000		$ 115,066,000		$ 45,241,000
Basic
Average common shares outstanding	69,651		74,803		79,127
Earnings per share attributable to controlling interest	$ 1.66		$ 1.54		$ 0.57
Diluted
Average common shares outstanding	70,252		75,409		79,143
Earnings per share attributable to controlling interest	$ 1.65		$ 1.53		$ 0.57

[1] Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest are not taxable to Worthington.