Supplemental Guarantor Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011	Feb. 29, 2012	Feb. 28, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 76,035	$ 59,070	$ 219,023	$ 176,213
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation			115,566	112,126
Amortization of deferred charges			29,520	32,166
Stock-based compensation			15,023	9,813
Deferred income taxes			(995)	22,524
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net			(11,760)	(32,844)
Inventories, net			(26,958)	(61,620)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(40,435)	(38,433)
Prepaid expenses and other			(5,977)	(2,418)
Accounts payable			6,372	26,974
Accrued compensation and related liabilities			3,251	241
Accrued liabilities			9,327	(40,663)
Income taxes payable			(4,243)	3,876
Net cash provided by operating activities			307,714	207,955
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(117,716)	(142,298)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities			519,955	137,879
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			(576,404)	(23,174)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(20,882)	(158,517)
Other, net			1,853	(2,845)
Net cash used in investing activities			(193,194)	(188,955)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt				304,781
Repayment of debt			(1,216)	(282,755)
Exercise of stock-based compensation awards			356
Dividends paid			(70,820)	(71,812)
Repurchase of common stock			(262,682)	(203,214)
Other, net			1,390	930
Net cash used in financing activities			(332,972)	(252,070)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(1,671)	6,520
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(220,123)	(226,550)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			438,106	411,281
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	217,983	184,731	217,983	184,731
Cintas Corporation
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	76,035	59,070	219,023	176,213
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Stock-based compensation			15,023	9,813
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Net cash provided by operating activities			234,046	186,026
Cash flows from investing activities:
Other, net			98,271	89,738
Net cash used in investing activities			98,271	89,738
Cash flows from financing activities:
Exercise of stock-based compensation awards			356
Dividends paid			(70,800)	(71,801)
Repurchase of common stock			(262,682)	(203,214)
Other, net			809	(749)
Net cash used in financing activities			(332,317)	(275,764)
Corp. 2
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	9,957	14,838	72,968	44,552
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation			70,252	69,852
Amortization of deferred charges			25,474	28,627
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net			(6,542)	(25,663)
Inventories, net			(29,357)	(47,047)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(25,877)	(31,532)
Prepaid expenses and other			(1,698)	380
Accounts payable			(61,326)	106,371
Accrued compensation and related liabilities			3,185	5,310
Accrued liabilities			(11,899)	(17,146)
Income taxes payable			9,603	13,019
Net cash provided by operating activities			44,783	146,723
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(80,939)	(65,579)
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			(2,552)	(17,645)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(15,632)	(126,371)
Other, net			49,778	55,099
Net cash used in investing activities			(49,345)	(154,496)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt				303,000
Repayment of debt			(736)	(282,160)
Other, net			1,131	575
Net cash used in financing activities			395	21,415
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(73)	324
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(4,240)	13,966
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			54,957	34,905
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	50,717	48,871	50,717	48,871
Subsidiary Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	57,607	38,596	135,155	130,808
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation			35,841	33,635
Amortization of deferred charges			308	440
Deferred income taxes			(710)	21,765
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net			(3,844)	(2,628)
Inventories, net			4,975	(7,932)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(13,403)	(7,456)
Prepaid expenses and other			(5,316)	(1,645)
Accounts payable			45,955	(103,373)
Accrued compensation and related liabilities			(698)	(5,397)
Accrued liabilities			29,797	(27,601)
Income taxes payable			(16,827)	(162)
Net cash provided by operating activities			211,233	30,454
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(24,837)	(67,560)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities				23,106
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			(35,293)	(49,287)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(65)
Other, net			(334,530)	(272,758)
Net cash used in investing activities			(394,725)	(366,499)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt				1,781
Repayment of debt			324	225
Net cash used in financing activities			324	2,006
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(2)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(183,170)	(334,039)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			313,283	339,702
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	130,113	5,663	130,113	5,663
Non-Guarantors
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	2,766	1,240	7,827	102,866
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation			9,473	8,639
Amortization of deferred charges			3,738	3,099
Deferred income taxes			(285)	759
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Accounts receivable, net			(1,374)	(4,553)
Inventories, net			399	(1,980)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(1,057)	(6,094)
Prepaid expenses and other			1,037	(1,153)
Accounts payable			21,743	23,980
Accrued compensation and related liabilities			764	328
Accrued liabilities			(9,375)	3,264
Income taxes payable			2,981	(8,981)
Net cash provided by operating activities			35,871	120,174
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures			(11,940)	(9,159)
Proceeds from redemption of marketable securities			519,955	114,773
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			(568,963)	(7,882)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired			(5,185)	(32,146)
Other, net			(285)	(99,526)
Net cash used in investing activities			(66,418)	(33,940)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid			(20)	(11)
Other, net			(550)	1,104
Net cash used in financing activities			(570)	1,093
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents			(1,596)	6,196
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(32,713)	93,523
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period			69,866	36,674
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	37,153	130,197	37,153	130,197
Eliminations
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	(70,330)	(54,674)	(215,950)	(278,226)
Change in current assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions of businesses:
Inventories, net			(2,975)	(4,661)
Uniforms and other rental items in service			(98)	6,649
Accounts payable				(4)
Accrued liabilities			804	820
Net cash provided by operating activities			(218,219)	(275,422)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities and investments			30,404	51,640
Other, net			188,619	224,602
Net cash used in investing activities			219,023	276,242
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of debt			(804)	(820)
Net cash used in financing activities			$ (804)	$ (820)