CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 15,762,146	$ 17,249,493	$ 16,140,705
Cost of revenue	14,736,543	16,037,303	14,979,754
Gross profit	1,025,603	1,212,190	1,160,951
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	675,730	614,295	572,645
Research and development	28,611	28,412	25,837
Amortization of intangibles	23,857	10,954	12,899
Restructuring and related charges	85,369	80,513
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries	7,962
Impairment of notes receivable and related charges		25,597
Operating income	204,074	452,419	549,570
Other expense	7,637	6,095	8,935
Interest income	(3,741)	(1,813)	(2,002)
Interest expense	128,055	121,023	106,088
Income from continuing operations before tax	72,123	327,114	436,549
Income tax expense	73,711	7,631	102,866
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	(1,588)	319,483	333,683
Discontinued operations
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	20,554	50,608	62,406
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	223,299
Discontinued operations, net of tax	243,853	50,608	62,406
Net income	242,265	370,091	396,089
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	952	(1,391)	1,402
Net income attributable to Jabil Circuit, Inc.	$ 241,313	$ 371,482	$ 394,687
Basic:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (0.01)	$ 1.58	$ 1.61
Discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 1.20	$ 0.25	$ 0.30
Net income	$ 1.19	$ 1.83	$ 1.91
Diluted:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (0.01)	$ 1.54	$ 1.57
Discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 1.20	$ 0.24	$ 0.30
Net income	$ 1.19	$ 1.79	$ 1.87
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	202,497	203,096	206,160
Diluted	202,497	207,815	211,181
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 0.32