Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014		Feb. 28, 2013	Feb. 28, 2014		Feb. 28, 2013	Nov. 30, 2013		Aug. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$ 17,396	[1]		$ 17,396	[1]		$ 12,699	[1]	$ 682	[1]
Other Comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	4,498	[1]		17,251	[1]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	115	[1]		(651)	[1]
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	115	[1],[2]	118	234	[1],[2]	895
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	4,613	[1]	1,481	16,600	[1]	10,728
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	4,498	[1]	1,363	16,366	[1]	9,833
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(84)	[1]		(114)	[1]
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.	4,697	[1]		16,714	[1]
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	34,192	[1]		34,192	[1]		29,610	[1]	17,712	[1]
Other Comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	4,498	[1]		17,251	[1]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	0	[1]		(885)	[1],[3]
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(84)	[1]		(114)	[1]
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.	4,582	[1]		16,480	[1]
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(16,796)	[1],[2]		(16,796)	[1],[2]		(16,911)	[1],[2]	(17,030)	[1],[2]
Other Comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	0	[1],[2]		0	[1],[2]
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	115	[1],[2]		234	[1],[2]
Less: comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	[1],[2]		0	[1],[2]
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.	$ 115	[1],[2]		$ 234	[1],[2]

[1] (1) All amounts presented are net of tax.

[2] (2) Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into cost of sales and selling, general & administrative expenses on the consolidated statements of operations. These components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. Refer to Note 7 of this Form 10-Q for further details.

[3] (3) Reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income (loss) from discontinued operations on the consolidated statements of operations on the sale of the rotational compounding business in Australia. Refer to Note 18 of this Form 10-Q for further details.