Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014	Apr. 04, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	SCHULMAN A INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000087565
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Feb. 28, 2014
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--08-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		29,204,862