Summary of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2014	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 223,299
Net revenue	15,762,146	17,249,493	16,140,705
Cost of revenue	(14,736,543)	(16,037,303)	(14,979,754)
Selling, general and administrative	(675,730)	(614,295)	(572,645)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	20,554	50,608	62,406
Interest expense	(128,055)	(121,023)	(106,088)
Total loss on derivative instruments	(7,153)	(2,285)	(1,382)
Recognized actuarial loss	(2,817)	(2,474)	(1,207)
Amortization of prior service cost	198	184	26
Net income attributable to Jabil Circuit, Inc.	241,313	371,482	394,687
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Total loss on derivative instruments	(7,153)
Recognized actuarial loss	(2,817)
Total actuarial loss	(2,254)
Amortization of prior service cost	198
Net income attributable to Jabil Circuit, Inc.	1,626
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Forward foreign exchange contracts
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net revenue	(3,475)
Cost of revenue	1,106
Selling, general and administrative	(258)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	(576)
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Interest rate swap
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Interest expense	(3,950)
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Foreign currency translation adjustment
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	10,835
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Actuarial loss
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 563