Loss on Disposal of Subsidiaries - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	Aug. 31, 2010 Maximum	Feb. 28, 2011 French and Italian Subsidiaries	Aug. 31, 2010 French and Italian Subsidiaries Employee Location	Aug. 31, 2010 French and Italian Subsidiaries Employee Location	Nov. 30, 2009 Jabil Circuit Automotive
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Divested operations, number of sites						4	4
Divested operations, employees						1,500	1,500
Net revenues of subsidiary							$ 298,600,000	$ 15,500,000
Operating loss							39,600,000	1,400,000
Aggregate working capital loan to disposed operations	25,000,000
Aggregate potential reimbursement in restructuring costs				10,000,000
Basis points	0.05
Repayment period, months	44 months
Additional charges						28,500,000
Loss on disposition of subsidiaries		23,944,000	24,604,000		18,500,000	8,900,000		15,700,000
Transaction-related costs during disposition						1,700,000		4,200,000
Working capital loan record charge						6,500,000
Write off of purchase price receivable					$ 5,400,000