Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Total SemiLEDs Stockholders' Equity USD ($)	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income USD ($)	Accumulated Deficit USD ($)	Non-Controlling Interests USD ($)	Comprehensive Income USD ($)
BALANCE at Aug. 31, 2012	$ 108,851	$ 107,818		$ 167,070	$ 5,179	$ (64,431)	$ 1,033
BALANCE (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2012			27,470
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Issuance of common stock under equity incentive plans	74	74		74
Issuance of common stock under equity incentive plans (in shares)			282
Stock-based compensation	1,497	1,497		1,497
Purchase of common shares in Ning Xiang from noncontrolling interests	(202)	(50)		(50)			(152)
Comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	396	386			386		10	396
Net loss	(26,686)	(25,867)				(25,867)	(819)	(26,686)
Total comprehensive loss	(26,290)	(25,481)					(809)	(26,290)
BALANCE at May. 31, 2013	$ 83,930	$ 83,858		$ 168,591	$ 5,565	$ (90,298)	$ 72
BALANCE (in shares) at May. 31, 2013			27,752