Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 3,171,429	$ 3,059,119	$ 3,759,556
Cost of goods sold		2,532,351	2,615,782	3,279,601
Gross margin		639,078	443,337	479,955
Selling, general and administrative expense		351,145	328,110	338,392
Impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets		13,739	82,690	7,817
Restructuring and other expense (income), net		56,097	10,048	(11,018)
Incremental expenses related to Nikola gains		50,624
Operating income		167,473	22,489	144,764
Other income (expense):
Miscellaneous income, net		2,163	9,099	2,716
Interest expense		(30,346)	(31,616)	(38,063)
Equity in net income of unconsolidated affiliates		123,325	114,848	97,039
Gains on investment in Nikola		655,102	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt		0	(4,034)	0
Earnings before income taxes		917,717	110,786	206,456
Income tax expense		176,267	26,342	43,183
Net earnings		741,450	84,444	163,273
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	[1]	17,655	5,648	9,818
Net earnings attributable to controlling interest		$ 723,795	$ 78,796	$ 153,455
Basic
Average common shares outstanding		52,701	54,958	57,196
Earnings per share attributable to controlling interest		$ 13.73	$ 1.43	$ 2.68
Diluted
Average common shares outstanding		53,917	55,983	58,823
Earnings per share attributable to controlling interest		$ 13.42	$ 1.41	$ 2.61

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