QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012		Feb. 29, 2012		Nov. 30, 2011		Aug. 31, 2011		May 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 597,032		$ 533,539		$ 530,505		$ 542,771		$ 519,754	$ 456,382	$ 443,526	$ 440,138	$ 2,203,847	$ 1,859,802	$ 1,642,468
Operating income	9,811	[1]	92,348	[1]	96,580	[1]	108,610	[1]	88,143	78,199	83,143	82,107	307,349	331,594	323,279
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	11,646		65,690		68,149		72,081		62,384	54,553	58,370	53,822
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(29)	(430)	(487)	(28)	0	(975)	(3,901)
Net income attributable to Global Payments	5,086		57,920		61,181		63,974		58,576	47,789	53,505	49,368	188,161	209,238	203,317
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06		$ 0.74		$ 0.78		$ 0.80		$ 0.73	$ 0.60	$ 0.67	$ 0.62	$ 2.39	$ 2.62	$ 2.51
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06		$ 0.73		$ 0.78		$ 0.79		$ 0.72	$ 0.59	$ 0.67	$ 0.61	$ 2.37	$ 2.60	$ 2.48
Processing system intrusion													$ 84,438	$ 0	$ 0

[1] Includes processing system intrusion charges of $84.4 million in the quarter ended May 31, 2012.