Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - Changes to Environmental Liabilities (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
May 31, 2014
Changes to Environmental Liabilities [Abstract]
Balance	$ 19,680
Payments made for which reserves had been provided	(1,460)
Insurance proceeds received	631
Interest accretion	537
Revision in estimates	(21)
Change in discount rates	647
Balance	$ 20,014

Name:	unf_ChangesToEnvironmentalLiabilitiesAbstract
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Amount of discount applied to the future cost of environmental remediation to present value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of interest accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with environmental remediation costs. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Recorded amount of the individual components comprising the asset for insurance recoveries related to environmental remediation obligations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Total costs accrued as of the balance sheet date for environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 410

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6393242&loc=d3e13207-110859

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6395460&loc=d3e13647-108346

+ Details

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- Definition

The Increase or Decrease in the accrual for environmental loss in the period from revisions in estimates to existing obligations. The amount does not relate to changes in the environmental accrual related to business acquisitions or divestitures, or to currency movements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate amount disbursed during the reporting period to settle environmental loss contingencies.

+ References

+ Details

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