Condensed Parent Company Only Financial Statements - Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	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
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative									$ 4,767	$ 6,986
Loss from operations	$ (11,562)	$ (3,141)	$ (2,770)	$ (3,132)	$ (2,930)	$ (3,074)	$ (2,852)	$ (4,442)	(20,605)	(13,298)	$ (24,800)
Other income (expenses):
Impairment loss on investment	(597)								(597)	0
Interest income									(52)	(94)
Total other expenses, net									(699)	(19)
Net loss attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders	$ (12,171)	$ (3,253)	$ (2,539)	$ (3,312)	$ (3,000)	$ (3,041)	$ (2,902)	$ (4,331)	(21,275)	(13,274)
SemiLEDs
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative									691	772
Loss from operations									(691)	(772)
Other income (expenses):
Impairment loss on investment									(280)
Equity in losses from subsidiaries, net									(20,302)	(12,504)
Interest income									0	2
Other expenses, net									(2)	0
Total other expenses, net									(20,584)	(12,502)
Net loss attributable to SemiLEDs stockholders									$ (21,275)	$ (13,274)