CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended										7 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2016	Aug. 31, 2016	May 31, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015	Aug. 31, 2015	May 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014	Aug. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 941,821	$ 939,492	$ 747,064	$ 679,940	$ 722,350	$ 748,796	$ 706,549	$ 664,983	$ 697,291	$ 704,895	$ 2,202,896	$ 1,730,070	$ 2,898,150	$ 2,773,718	$ 2,554,236
Operating expenses:
Cost of service											1,094,593	638,700	1,147,639	1,022,107	952,225
Selling, general and administrative											870,352	784,823	1,325,567	1,295,014	1,196,512
Total costs and expenses											1,964,945	1,423,523	2,473,206	2,317,121	2,148,737
Operating income	105,267	121,106	56,202	107,805	123,165	137,772	103,600	104,615	123,984	124,398	237,951	306,547	424,944	456,597	405,499
Interest and other income											44,382	2,886	5,284	4,949	13,663
Interest and other expense											(108,989)	(32,149)	(69,316)	(44,436)	(41,812)
Total nonoperating income (expense)											(64,607)	(29,263)	(64,032)	(39,487)	(28,149)
Income before income taxes											173,344	277,284	360,912	417,110	377,350
Provision for income taxes											(35,661)	(70,089)	(70,695)	(107,995)	(107,398)
Net income	52,615	92,458	41,179	72,912	83,078	93,048	70,110	69,315	85,256	84,434	137,683	207,195	290,217	309,115	269,952
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests											(12,752)	(12,351)	(18,551)	(31,075)	(24,666)
Net income attributable to Global Payments	$ 49,452	$ 85,093	$ 37,188	$ 69,061	$ 78,771	$ 86,646	$ 65,325	$ 62,568	$ 74,781	$ 75,366	$ 124,931	$ 194,844	$ 271,666	$ 278,040	$ 245,286
Earnings per share attributable to Global Payments:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 0.27	$ 0.53	$ 0.61	$ 0.66	$ 0.50	$ 0.47	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.81	$ 1.50	$ 2.05	$ 2.07	$ 1.70
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.55	$ 0.26	$ 0.53	$ 0.60	$ 0.66	$ 0.49	$ 0.46	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 0.81	$ 1.49	$ 2.04	$ 2.06	$ 1.69