Condensed Parent Company Only Financial Statements - Statements of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	$ (3,439)	$ (4,525)	$ (15,700)
Investing activities	(535)	(1,140)
Financing activities	5,320	(1,808)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	1,222	(7,841)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year	4,808	12,649
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year	6,030	4,808	12,649
SemiLEDs
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities	(727)	(451)
Investing activities	(2,600)	(6,500)
Financing activities	3,385
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	58	(6,951)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year	887	7,838
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year	$ 945	$ 887	$ 7,838