Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Number of Shares [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member] USD ($)	Retained Earnings [Member] USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) Minimum Pension Liability [Member] USD ($)	Total Global Payments Shareholders' Equity [Member] USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interest [Member] USD ($)
Balance at May. 29, 2009 (Previously Reported [Member])	$ 678,243		$ 405,241	$ 273,090	$ (8,987)	$ (1,914)	$ 667,430	$ 10,813
Balance (in shares) at May. 29, 2009		80,445,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Retrospective adjustment for the change in accounting method for the retirement of repurchased shares (see Note 1) at May. 30, 2009 (Previously Reported [Member])	0		15,447	(15,447)	0	0	0	0
Balance at May. 31, 2009	678,243		420,688	257,643	(8,987)	(1,914)	667,430	10,813
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Retrospective adjustment for the change in accounting method for the retirement of repurchased shares (see Note 1)	0		14,131	(14,131)			0
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income including noncontrolling interests	211,346			203,317			203,317	8,029
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax	(1,035)					(1,035)	(1,035)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(32,319)				(32,319)		(32,319)
Total comprehensive income	177,992						169,963
Total comprehensive income at Jun. 01, 2009 (Previously Reported [Member])								8,029
Stock issued under employee stock plans, net	30,248		30,248				30,248
Stock issued under employee stock plans, net (in shares)	1,584,000
Tax benefit from employee share-based compensation, net	7,186		7,186				7,186
Share-based compensation expense	18,072		18,072				18,072
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(8,589)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest at Jun. 01, 2009 (Previously Reported [Member])								(8,589)
Deferred tax asset - arising from acquisition of noncontrolling interest	89,965			89,965			89,965
Redeemable noncontrolling interest valuation adjustment	(15,103)			(15,103)			(15,103)
Adjustment for the correction of an error (see Note 1)	(100,000)		(100,000)
Adjustment for the correction of an error, shares (see Note 1)	(2,383,000)
Dividends paid ($0.08 per share)	(6,497)			(6,497)			(6,497)
Balance at May. 31, 2010 (Previously Reported [Member])	871,517		390,325	515,194	(41,306)	(2,949)	861,264	10,253
Balance at May. 31, 2010	871,517		390,325	515,194	(41,306)	(2,949)	861,264	10,253
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2010		79,646,000
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income including noncontrolling interests	218,564			209,238			209,238	9,326
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax	110					110	110
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	133,182				123,465		123,465	9,717
Total comprehensive income	351,856						332,813	19,043
Stock issued under employee stock plans, net	18,364		18,364				18,364
Stock issued under employee stock plans, net (in shares)		1,034,000
Tax benefit from employee share-based compensation, net	7,997		7,997				7,997
Share-based compensation expense	15,885		15,885				15,885
Noncontrolling interest in business acquisition	132,738							132,738
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(8,752)							(8,752)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest valuation adjustment	(32,420)			(32,420)			(32,420)
Repurchase of common stock	(12,980)		(12,980)				(12,980)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(345,000)
Dividends paid ($0.08 per share)	(6,388)			(6,388)			(6,388)
Balance at May. 31, 2011 (Previously Reported [Member])	1,337,817		419,591	685,624	82,159	(2,839)	1,184,535	153,282
Balance at May. 31, 2011	1,337,817		419,591	685,624	82,159	(2,839)	1,184,535	153,282
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2011		80,335,000
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income including noncontrolling interests	205,965			188,161			188,161	17,804
Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax	(2,210)					(2,210)	(2,210)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(130,101)				(107,110)		(107,110)	(22,991)
Total comprehensive income	73,654						78,841	(5,187)
Stock issued under employee stock plans, net	6,585		6,585				6,585
Stock issued under employee stock plans, net (in shares)		506,000
Tax benefit from employee share-based compensation, net	1,176		1,176				1,176
Share-based compensation expense	16,391		16,391				16,391
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	(19,358)							(19,358)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest valuation adjustment	(9,429)			(9,429)			(9,429)
Repurchase of common stock	(99,604)		(85,015)	(14,589)			(99,604)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(2,290,059)	(2,290,000)
Dividends paid ($0.08 per share)	(6,311)			(6,311)			(6,311)
Balance at May. 31, 2012	$ 1,300,921		$ 358,728	$ 843,456	$ (24,951)	$ (5,049)	$ 1,172,184	$ 128,737
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2012		78,551,000