Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	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, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Revenues, net	$ 1,883,000	$ 2,378,000	$ 2,916,000	$ 2,963,000	$ 3,122,000	$ 3,508,000	$ 4,566,000	$ 2,928,000	$ 10,140,000	$ 14,124,000
Cost of revenues	3,132,000	3,828,000	3,711,000	4,407,000	4,159,000	4,367,000	5,217,000	4,471,000	15,078,000	18,214,000
Gross loss	(1,249,000)	(1,450,000)	(795,000)	(1,444,000)	(1,037,000)	(859,000)	(651,000)	(1,543,000)	(4,938,000)	(4,090,000)	$ (11,300,000)
Operating expenses	10,313,000	1,691,000	1,975,000	1,688,000	1,893,000	2,215,000	2,201,000	2,899,000	15,667,000	9,208,000
Loss from operations	(11,562,000)	(3,141,000)	(2,770,000)	(3,132,000)	(2,930,000)	(3,074,000)	(2,852,000)	(4,442,000)	(20,605,000)	(13,298,000)	$ (24,800,000)
Net loss attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders	$ (12,171,000)	$ (3,253,000)	$ (2,539,000)	$ (3,312,000)	$ (3,000,000)	$ (3,041,000)	$ (2,902,000)	$ (4,331,000)	$ (21,275,000)	$ (13,274,000)
Basic and diluted earnings per share	$ (4.07)	$ (1.11)	$ (0.87)	$ (1.14)	$ (1.03)	$ (1.10)	$ (1.02)	$ (1.52)	$ (7.25)	$ (4.62)
Impairment charges	$ 9,287,000
Impairment charges pertained to property, plant and equipment									$ 8,635,000
Impairment of intangibles	1,202,000								1,202,000	$ 0
Goodwill impairment	55,000								55,000
Impairment loss on investment	597,000								597,000	0
Property, plant and equipment
Impairment charges pertained to property, plant and equipment	$ 7,433,000								7,433,000
SemiLEDs
Loss from operations									(691,000)	(772,000)
Net loss attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders									(21,275,000)	$ (13,274,000)
Impairment loss on investment									$ 280,000