Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 25, 2017	Feb. 27, 2016	Feb. 25, 2017	Feb. 27, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 306,540	$ 449,760	$ 799,929	$ 1,605,630
Cost of sales	267,375	317,034	766,385	998,236
Gross profit	39,165	132,726	33,544	607,394
Selling, general, and administrative expense	43,738	46,955	125,985	135,356
Operating income (loss)	(4,573)	85,771	(92,441)	472,038
Other income (expense):
Interest income, net	411	1,377	2,283	2,020
Royalty income	381	362	1,111	1,266
Patronage income	7,608	6,879	7,608	6,879
Equity in income of affiliates	1,018	1,542	1,854	3,574
Other, net	(680)	1,584	(1,558)	404
Total other income	8,738	11,744	11,298	14,143
Income (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	4,165	97,515	(81,143)	486,181
Income tax expense (benefit)	34	33,173	(31,327)	167,839
Net income (loss) before noncontrolling interest	4,131	64,342	(49,816)	318,342
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(8)	178	(9)	1,925
Net income (loss) attributable to Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.	$ 4,139	$ 64,164	$ (49,807)	$ 316,417
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.09	$ 1.33	$ (1.03)	$ 6.57
Diluted (in dollars per share)	0.09	1.33	(1.03)	6.54
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.000	$ 0.441	$ 0.000	$ 2.175
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	48,286	48,204	48,285	48,177
Diluted (in shares)	48,417	48,367	48,285	48,359