UNAUDITED 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 Loss [Member] USD ($)	Total Global Payments Shareholders' Equity [Member] USD ($)	Non-controlling Interest [Member] USD ($)
Balance, beginning balance at May. 31, 2012	$ 1,300,921		$ 358,728	$ 843,456	$ (30,000)	$ 1,172,184	$ 128,737
Balance, beginning balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2012		78,551,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	190,533			175,320		175,320	15,213
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax of in 2014 :$7,058, 2013: $814	31,083				23,226	23,226	7,857
Stock issued under employee stock plans (in shares)		856,000
Stock issued under employee stock plans	9,257		9,257			9,257
Common stock repurchased - share based compensation plans (in shares)		(335,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(10,215)		(10,215)			(10,215)
Tax benefit from employee share-based compensation, net	784		784			784
Share-based compensation expense	14,063		14,063			14,063
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(13,656)						(13,656)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest valuation adjustment	817			817		817
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(2,323,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(137,653)		(68,943)	(68,710)		(137,653)
Commitment to purchase redeemable noncontrolling interest	(96,008)		(96,008)			(96,008)
Dividends paid (2014: $0.06, 2013: $0.06, per share)	(4,688)			(4,688)		(4,688)
Balance, ending balance at Feb. 28, 2013	1,285,238		207,666	946,195	(6,774)	1,147,087	138,151
Balance, ending balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2013		76,749,000
Balance, beginning balance at May. 31, 2013	1,286,607		202,396	958,751	(15,062)	1,146,085	140,522
Balance, beginning balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2013		75,426,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	211,686			193,661		193,661	18,025
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax of in 2014 :$7,058, 2013: $814	18,115				9,317	9,317	8,798
Stock issued under employee stock plans (in shares)		1,557,000
Stock issued under employee stock plans	29,740		29,740			29,740
Common stock repurchased - share based compensation plans (in shares)		(361,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(5,682)		(5,682)			(5,682)
Tax benefit from employee share-based compensation, net	4,657		4,657			4,657
Share-based compensation expense	17,269		17,269			17,269
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(33,744)						(33,744)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	(4,961,000)	(4,961,000)
Repurchase of common stock	(260,609)		(53,072)	(207,537)		(260,609)
Dividends paid (2014: $0.06, 2013: $0.06, per share)	(4,330)			(4,330)		(4,330)
Balance, ending balance at Feb. 28, 2014	$ 1,263,709		$ 195,308	$ 940,545	$ (5,745)	$ 1,130,108	$ 133,601
Balance, ending balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2014		71,661,000