Earnings Per Share and Dividends (Calculations of Basic and Diluted EPS) (Details 1) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 5,839	$ 72,257	$ 216,187	$ 203,172
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	626	221	159	756
Income from continuing operations attributable to Jabil Circuit, Inc., net of tax	5,213	72,036	216,028	202,416
Discontinued operations attributable to Jabil Circuit, Inc., net of tax		167		(6,099)
Net income attributable to Jabil Circuit, Inc.	$ 5,213	$ 72,203	$ 216,028	$ 196,317
Denominator for basic and diluted earnings per share:
Denominator for basic earnings per share	191,206	193,785	190,841	193,617
Dilutive common shares issuable under the employee stock purchase plan and upon exercise of stock options and stock appreciation rights	31	221	130	95
Dilutive unvested restricted stock awards	1,832	2,298	2,087	2,081
Denominator for diluted earnings per share	193,069	196,304	193,058	195,793
Basic:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax [per share]	$ 0.03	$ 0.37	$ 1.13	$ 1.05
Discontinued operations, net of tax [per share]	0	0	0	(0.03)
Net income [per share]	0.03	0.37	1.13	1.01
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax [per share]	0.03	0.37	1.12	1.03
Discontinued operations, net of tax [per share]	0	0	0	(0.03)
Net income [per share]	$ 0.03	$ 0.37	$ 1.12	$ 1