Basis of Presentation - Schedule of Impact of Adopting New Revenue Guidance Income Statement (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018	Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2017	Feb. 28, 2019	Feb. 28, 2018
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 1,682,330			$ 1,589,138			$ 5,098,573	$ 4,807,082
Selling and administrative expenses	476,099			490,618			1,472,404	1,444,985
Operating income	278,255			200,024			819,123	684,334
Income (loss) before income taxes	251,555			174,507			813,499	599,959
Income tax expense (benefit)	50,632			(121,282)			157,035	5,325
Income from continuing operations	200,923			295,789			656,464	594,634
Net income	$ 203,334	$ 243,013	$ 212,515	$ 302,095	$ 137,109	$ 217,211	$ 658,862	$ 656,415
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.85			$ 2.71			$ 5.93	$ 5.90
Under Historical Guidance
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue							$ 5,099,354
Selling and administrative expenses							1,493,553
Operating income							800,398
Income (loss) before income taxes							794,774
Income tax expense (benefit)							152,466
Income from continuing operations							642,308
Net income							$ 644,706
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)							$ 5.80
Impact of Adopting ASU 2014-09 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue							$ (781)
Selling and administrative expenses							(21,149)
Operating income							18,725
Income (loss) before income taxes							18,725
Income tax expense (benefit)							4,569
Income from continuing operations							14,156
Net income							$ 14,156
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)							$ 0.13
Uniform Rental and Facility Services
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 1,358,322			$ 1,284,516			$ 4,124,038	$ 3,904,338
Cost of revenue	748,971			718,138			2,256,543	2,148,961
Uniform Rental and Facility Services | Under Historical Guidance
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue							4,127,359
Uniform Rental and Facility Services | Impact of Adopting ASU 2014-09 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue							(3,321)
Other
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue	324,008			304,622			974,535	902,744
Cost of revenue	$ 178,206			$ 170,537			537,007	$ 501,936
Other | Under Historical Guidance
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue							971,995
Cost of revenue							535,364
Other | Impact of Adopting ASU 2014-09 | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Total revenue							2,540
Cost of revenue							$ 1,643