Accounts Receivable Net Inventories and Property Plant and Equipment Net by Operating Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 31, 2012	May 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	$ 3,431	$ 3,280
Inventories	3,411	3,350
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	2,291	2,279
NIKE Brand
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	2,904	2,709
Inventories	2,850	2,796
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	1,556	1,536
NIKE Brand | North America
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	1,238	1,149
Inventories	1,267	1,272
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	380	378
NIKE Brand | Western Europe
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	518	420
Inventories	485	488
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	314	314
NIKE Brand | Central & Eastern Europe
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	326	261
Inventories	134	180
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	33	30
NIKE Brand | Greater China
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	195	221
Inventories	237	217
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	191	191
NIKE Brand | Japan
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	99	152
Inventories	97	83
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	356	359
NIKE Brand | Emerging Markets
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	514	476
Inventories	594	521
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	67	59
NIKE Brand | Global Brand Divisions
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	14	30
Inventories	36	35
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	215	205
Other Businesses
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	363	401
Inventories	337	384
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	75	76
Businesses to be Divested
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	139	148
Inventories	148	127
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	67	70
Corporate
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Accounts receivable, net	25	22
Inventories	76	43
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	$ 593	$ 597