Supplemental Guarantor Information (Cash Flows Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010	Nov. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 74,350	$ 55,866	$ 142,988	$ 117,143
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation			76,922	74,563
Amortization of deferred charges			20,104	21,182
Stock-based compensation			9,756	5,799
Deferred income taxes			(11,767)	(6,277)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net			(20,850)	(27,774)
Inventories, net			(39,268)	(38,838)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(29,630)	(30,639)
Prepaid expenses and other			(5,128)	(4,526)
Accounts payable			1,843	19,765
Accrued compensation and related liabilities			(15,314)	(13,458)
Accrued liabilities			26,306	(10,066)
Income taxes payable			19,996	2,355
Net cash provided by operating activities			175,958	109,229
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(79,832)	(88,134)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities			140,162	135,283
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			(193,527)	(12,472)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(14,551)	(88,799)
Other, net			5,772	(6,858)
Net cash used in investing activities			(141,976)	(60,980)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt				1,781
Repayment of debt			(903)	(794)
Exercise of stock-based compensation awards			78
Repurchase of common stock			(262,682)	(203,207)
Other, net			1,454	1,699
Net cash used in financing activities			(262,053)	(200,521)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(2,263)	1,944
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(230,334)	(150,328)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			438,106	411,281
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	207,772	260,953	207,772	260,953
Cintas Corporation
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	74,350	55,866	142,988	117,143
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Stock-based compensation			9,756	5,799
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Net cash provided by operating activities			152,744	122,942
Cash flows from investing activities:
Other, net			109,311	80,265
Net cash used in investing activities			109,311	80,265
Cash flows from financing activities:
Exercise of stock-based compensation awards			78
Repurchase of common stock			(262,682)	(203,207)
Other, net			549
Net cash used in financing activities			(262,055)	(203,207)
Corp. 2
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	31,118	18,385	63,011	29,714
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation			47,021	46,558
Amortization of deferred charges			17,305	18,889
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net			(14,793)	(19,216)
Inventories, net			(42,583)	(26,531)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(22,332)	(26,556)
Prepaid expenses and other			(974)	188
Accounts payable			(51,087)	75,896
Accrued compensation and related liabilities			(10,318)	(4,480)
Accrued liabilities			4,485	(4,734)
Income taxes payable			8,586	9,553
Net cash provided by operating activities			(1,679)	99,281
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(50,166)	(38,392)
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			(1,282)	(17,693)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(9,831)	(56,875)
Other, net			52,721	21,107
Net cash used in investing activities			(8,558)	(91,853)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt			(522)	(495)
Other, net			754	383
Net cash used in financing activities			232	(112)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(182)	166
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(10,187)	7,482
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			54,957	34,905
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	44,770	42,387	44,770	42,387
Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	38,840	37,243	77,548	92,212
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation			23,527	22,383
Amortization of deferred charges			205	339
Deferred income taxes			(12,396)	(6,731)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net			(4,301)	(4,368)
Inventories, net			3,246	(11,933)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(9,748)	(6,073)
Prepaid expenses and other			(4,476)	(2,648)
Accounts payable			42,294	(73,488)
Accrued compensation and related liabilities			(4,813)	(9,151)
Accrued liabilities			25,936	(7,863)
Income taxes payable			10,178	(1,076)
Net cash provided by operating activities			147,200	(8,397)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(23,731)	(43,862)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities				21,769
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			(33,394)	(43,794)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(65)
Other, net			(268,817)	(176,860)
Net cash used in investing activities			(326,007)	(242,747)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt				1,781
Repayment of debt			423	521
Net cash used in financing activities			423	2,302
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(178,384)	(248,842)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			313,283	339,701
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	134,899	90,859	134,899	90,859
Non-Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	189	3,070	5,061	101,626
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation			6,374	5,622
Amortization of deferred charges			2,594	1,954
Deferred income taxes			629	454
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net			(1,756)	(4,190)
Inventories, net			790	(1,166)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(903)	(3,597)
Prepaid expenses and other			322	(2,066)
Accounts payable			10,636	17,357
Accrued compensation and related liabilities			(183)	173
Accrued liabilities			(4,919)	1,711
Income taxes payable			1,232	(6,122)
Net cash provided by operating activities			19,877	111,756
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(5,935)	(5,880)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities			140,162	113,514
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			(189,255)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(4,655)	(31,924)
Other, net			(27)	(99,528)
Net cash used in investing activities			(59,710)	(23,818)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Other, net			151	1,316
Net cash used in financing activities			151	1,316
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(2,081)	1,778
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(41,763)	91,032
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			69,866	36,675
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	28,103	127,707	28,103	127,707
Eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	(70,147)	(58,698)	(145,620)	(223,552)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Inventories, net			(721)	792
Uniforms and other rental items in service			3,353	5,587
Accrued liabilities			804	820
Net cash provided by operating activities			(142,184)	(216,353)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			30,404	49,015
Other, net			112,584	168,158
Net cash used in investing activities			142,988	217,173
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt			(804)	(820)
Net cash used in financing activities			$ (804)	$ (820)