Segment Operations - Schedule of Equity Income from Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Included in the Measurement of Segment Profit (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021
Steel Processing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Included in each Segment	Serviacero Worthington
Consumer products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Included in each Segment	N/A
Building Products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Included in each Segment	WAVE ClarkDietrich
Sustainable Energy Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Included in each Segment	N/A
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures Included in each Segment	CabsArtiFlex