CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 18,353,086	$ 17,899,196	$ 15,762,146
Cost of revenue	16,825,382	16,395,978	14,736,543
Gross profit	1,527,704	1,503,218	1,025,603
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	924,427	862,647	675,730
Research and development	31,954	27,645	28,611
Amortization of intangibles	37,121	24,449	23,857
Restructuring and related charges	11,369	33,066	85,369
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries			7,962
Operating income	522,833	555,411	204,074
Other expense	8,380	5,627	7,637
Interest income	(9,128)	(9,953)	(3,741)
Interest expense	136,536	128,091	128,055
Income from continuing operations before tax	387,045	431,646	72,123
Income tax expense	132,149	137,461	73,711
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	254,896	294,185	(1,588)
Discontinued operations
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax		(7,698)	20,554
(Loss) gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax		(875)	223,299
Discontinued operations, net of tax		(8,573)	243,853
Net income	254,896	285,612	242,265
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	801	1,593	952
Net income attributable to Jabil Circuit, Inc.	$ 254,095	$ 284,019	$ 241,313
Basic:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 1.33	$ 1.51	$ (0.01)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(0.04)	1.2
Net income	1.33	1.47	1.19
Diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	1.32	1.49	(0.01)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(0.04)	1.2
Net income	$ 1.32	$ 1.45	$ 1.19
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic	190,413	193,689	202,497
Diluted	192,750	196,005	202,497
Cash dividends declared per share	$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 0.32