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Fair Value and Carrying Value of Financial Instruments and Long-Term Debt (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Feb. 28, 2015
May 31, 2014
Feb. 28, 2014
May 31, 2013
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents, carrying value $ 220,390us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 332,868us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 216,001us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 343,554us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Marketable equity securities, carrying value 108,592us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities 119,800us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecurities    
Marketable debt securities, carrying value 21,250us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities 23,080us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities    
Long-term debt, including current portion, carrying value 1,868,111rpm_LongTermDebtCarryingAmount 1,351,627rpm_LongTermDebtCarryingAmount    
Cash and cash equivalents, fair value 220,390us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure 332,868us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsFairValueDisclosure    
Marketable securities, fair value 129,842us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities 142,880us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities    
Long-term debt, including current portion, fair value 1,863,113us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue 1,516,062us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue    
Equity securities        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Marketable securities, fair value 108,592us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
119,800us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesMember
   
Fixed maturity        
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]        
Marketable securities, fair value $ 21,250us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember
$ 23,080us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FixedIncomeSecuritiesMember