Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Adjustments on Consolidated Financial Statements (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		May 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	May 31, 2019	May 31, 2018	May 31, 2017	Jun. 01, 2018
ASSETS
Receivables		$ 501,944				$ 572,689				$ 501,944	$ 572,689
Total inventories		484,280				454,027				484,280	454,027
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		69,508				60,134				69,508	60,134
Income tax receivable		10,894								10,894
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Income taxes payable		1,164				4,593				1,164	4,593
Deferred income taxes, net		74,102				60,188				74,102	60,188
Shareholders' equity - controlling interest		831,246				918,769				831,246	918,769
Noncontrolling interests		117,148				117,606				117,148	117,606
Consolidated Statement of Earnings
Net sales		938,842	$ 874,381	$ 958,226	$ 988,107	1,020,460	$ 841,657	$ 871,266	$ 848,237	3,759,556	3,581,620	$ 3,014,108
Cost of goods sold										3,279,601	3,018,763	2,478,203
Income tax expense										43,183	8,220	79,190
Net earnings		38,975	29,548	37,792	56,958	32,857	78,297	41,622	48,074	163,273	200,850	217,937
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	[1]									9,818	6,056	13,422
Net earnings attributable to controlling interest		37,738	$ 26,773	$ 34,002	$ 54,942	$ 30,769	$ 79,087	$ 39,403	$ 45,534	153,455	$ 194,794	$ 204,515
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
ASSETS
Receivables													$ 577,395
Total inventories													450,575
Prepaid expenses and other current assets													61,078
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Deferred income taxes, net													60,642
Noncontrolling interests													118,176
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Topic 606 Adjustments
ASSETS
Receivables		(5,367)								(5,367)			4,706
Total inventories		8,704								8,704			(3,452)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(6,891)								(6,891)			944
Income tax receivable		425								425
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Income taxes payable		12								12
Deferred income taxes, net		(360)								(360)			454
Shareholders' equity - controlling interest		(2,227)								(2,227)
Noncontrolling interests		(554)								(554)			$ 570
Consolidated Statement of Earnings
Net sales										(6,608)
Cost of goods sold										(5,253)
Income tax expense										(319)
Net earnings										(1,036)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests										16
Net earnings attributable to controlling interest										(1,052)
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Balances Without Adoption of Topic 606
ASSETS
Receivables		496,577								496,577
Total inventories		492,984								492,984
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		62,617								62,617
Income tax receivable		11,319								11,319
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Income taxes payable		1,176								1,176
Deferred income taxes, net		73,742								73,742
Shareholders' equity - controlling interest		829,019								829,019
Noncontrolling interests		$ 116,594								116,594
Consolidated Statement of Earnings
Net sales										3,752,948
Cost of goods sold										3,274,348
Income tax expense										42,864
Net earnings										162,237
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests										9,834
Net earnings attributable to controlling interest										$ 152,403

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