This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 225
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04(10))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879464&loc=d3e573970-122913

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(12))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions
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://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66011266&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

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

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

- Definition

Amount of consolidated retained earnings that represent undistributed (not yet received) earnings from 50% or less owned persons accounted for by the equity method (equity method investees).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 852
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6462270&loc=d3e57205-112772

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetainedEarningsUndistributedEarningsFromEquityMethodInvestees
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cumulative distributions from an equity method investee in excess of the entity's investment balance in the investee.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number Of Affiliated Companies

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wor_NumberOfAffiliatedCompanies
Namespace Prefix:	wor_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Largest Affiliated Companies

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wor_NumberOfLargestAffiliatedCompanies
Namespace Prefix:	wor_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_WorthingtonArmstrongVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_UnconsolidatedAffiliatesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_ArtiFlexMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_ClarkDietrichMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_SamuelSteelPicklingCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_ServiaceroPlanosSDeCVMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis=wor_ZhejiangNisshinWorthingtonPrecisionSpecialtySteelCoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Investments in Unconsolidated Affiliates - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017 USD ($) Entity	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2015 USD ($)
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Number of unconsolidated affiliates \| Entity	6
Number of largest unconsolidated affiliates \| Entity	4
Consolidated retained earnings undistributed earnings net of tax	$ 28,803
WAVE
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Cumulative distributions in excess of investment	63,038	$ 52,983
Unconsolidated Affiliates
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	$ 102,015	$ 86,513	$ 78,297
Joint Venture Transactions \| ArtiFlex
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| ClarkDietrich
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	25.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| Samuel Steel Pickling Company
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	31.25%
Joint Venture Transactions \| Serviacero
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| WAVE
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	50.00%
Joint Venture Transactions \| Zhejiang Nisshin Worthington Precision Specialty Steel Co
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates [Line Items]
Percent of interest by unconsolidated affiliates	10.00%