| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | 12 Months Ended |
| Aug. 31, 2023 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2022 USD ($) | Aug. 31, 2021 USD ($) |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure, Table | Value of Initial Fixed Year Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (b) (1)(2) Compensation Actually Paid to PEO (c) (1)(3) Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Named Executive Officers (d) (4) Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO Named Executive Officers (e) (5) Total Shareholder Return (f) (6) Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equipment Index Total Shareholder Return (g) (7) Net Income ($M)(h) (8) Adjusted ROIC (9) 2023 $ 9,213,817 $ 8,585,748 $ 2,567,942 $ 2,140,698 $149.04 $155.48 $346.00 17.10 % 2022 $ 7,679,005 $ 4,822,663 $ 2,071,282 $ 2,261,684 $151.03 $128.32 $384.00 18.10 % 2021 $ 14,908,045 $ 52,621,462 $ 2,161,603 $ 4,860,075 $169.52 $144.85 $306.30 16.10 % | | |
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted ROIC | | |
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote | Our PEO for each fiscal year was Neil Ashe. Year Non-PEO NEOs 2023 Karen J. Holcom, Barry R. Goldman, Dianne S. Mills 2022 Karen J. Holcom, Barry R. Goldman, Dianne S. Mills 2021 Karen J. Holcom, Barry R. Goldman, Dianne S. Mills, Richard K. Reece | | |
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote | The peer group used is the Dow Jones U.S. Electrical Components & Equipment Index, as used in the company's performance graph in our annual report. Total shareholder return is calculated by assuming that a $100 investment was made on the day immediately prior to the first fiscal year reported in the table and reinvesting all dividends until the last day of each reported fiscal year | | |
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 9,213,817 | $ 7,679,005 | $ 14,908,045 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 8,585,748 | 4,822,663 | 52,621,462 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote | Year Reported Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO Reported Value of Equity Awards ($) (a) Equity Award Adjustments ($) (b) Reported Change in Pension Value Pension Benefit Adjustments ($) (c) Compensation Actually Paid to PEO 2023 9,213,817 (6,091,382) 5,096,654 (711,755) 1,078,414 8,585,748 2022 7,679,005 (5,000,154) 1,477,973 (578,872) 1,244,711 4,822,663 2021 14,908,045 (11,212,565) 48,631,456 (1,055,471) 1,349,997 52,621,462 Year Year End Year over Fair Value Year over Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Value of Dividends Total Equity 2023 3,169,434 (895,482) — 2,822,702 — — 5,096,654 2022 6,959,607 (6,392,606) — 910,972 — — 1,477,973 2021 27,291,422 20,360,204 — 979,830 — — 48,631,456 (c) | | |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 2,567,942 | 2,071,282 | 2,161,603 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 2,140,698 | 2,261,684 | 4,860,075 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote | Year Average Reported Summary Compensation Table Total for NEOs Average Reported Value of Equity Awards ($) (a) Average Equity Award Adjustments ($) (b) Average Reported Change in Pension Pension Benefit Adjustments ($) (c) Average Compensation Actually Paid to NEOs 2023 2,567,942 (1,321,320) 827,418 (129,789) 196,447 2,140,698 2022 2,071,282 (1,100,104) 1,109,446 (59,414) 240,474 2,261,684 2021 2,161,603 (856,252) 3,321,196 (150,803) 384,331 4,860,075 Year Average Year End Fair Value of Equity Awards Granted in Year Year over Average Fair Value as Year over Average Fair Value at the End of the Prior Year of Equity Awards that Average Value of Dividends Total Average Equity 2023 782,272 (27,500) — 72,646 — — 827,418 2022 1,311,812 (244,037) — 41,671 — — 1,109,446 2021 2,605,621 728,029 — (12,455) — — 3,321,196 (c) The pension benefit adjustments for each applicable fiscal year consist of the average of the actuarially determined service cost for services rendered during the applicable year plus, to the extent applicable, the average of the prior service cost, calculated as the entire cost of benefits granted in a plan amendment or initiation during the applicable year attributable to services rendered during prior periods. For 2023 and 2022, the pension benefit adjustments consist only of service cost for services rendered during the applicable year. For 2021, the pension benefit adjustments consist of $170,096 of average service cost for services rendered during 2021 and $214,235 of average prior service cost. | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure | AYI Adjusted ROIC vs. Compensation Actually Paid | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Vs Peer Group | | | |
| Tabular List, Table | Tabular List of Performance Measures ROIC Net Sales Adjusted Operating Profit Free Cash Flow rTSR | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 149.04 | 151.03 | 169.52 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 155.48 | 128.32 | 144.85 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 346,000,000 | $ 384,000,000 | $ 306,300,000 |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 0.1710 | 0.1810 | 0.1610 |
| PEO Name | Neil Ashe | Neil Ashe | Neil Ashe |
| Additional 402(v) Disclosure | Represents the total compensation paid to our PEO in each listed year, as shown in our Summary Compensation Table for such listed year. (3) Compensation actually paid does not mean that our PEO was actually paid those amounts in the listed year, but this is a dollar amount derived from the starting point of summary compensation table total compensation under the methodology prescribed under the relevant rules as shown in the adjustment table below. The reported value of equity awards represents the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. (b) The average reported value of equity awards represents average of the total of the amounts reported in the “Stock Awards” and “Option Awards” columns in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable year. (b) Total shareholder return is calculated by assuming that a $100 investment was made on the day immediately prior to the first fiscal year reported in the table and reinvesting all dividends until the last day of each reported fiscal year. The dollar amounts reported are the Company's net income reflected in the Company’s audited financial statements. (9) | | |
| Measure:: 1 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Name | ROIC | | |
| Measure:: 2 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Name | Net Sales | | |
| Measure:: 3 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Name | Adjusted Operating Profit | | |
| Measure:: 4 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Name | Free Cash Flow | | |
| Measure:: 5 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Name | rTSR | | |
| Non-GAAP Measure Description | Adjusted ROIC is a non-GAAP financial measure. See Appendix B for a reconciliation of adjusted ROIC to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. | | |
| Measure:: 6 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Name | Adjusted ROIC | | |
| PEO | Reported Value Of Equity Awards [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | $ (6,091,382) | $ (5,000,154) | $ (11,212,565) |
| PEO | Equity Award Adjustments [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 5,096,654 | 1,477,973 | 48,631,456 |
| PEO | Reported Change In Pension Value [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (711,755) | (578,872) | (1,055,471) |
| PEO | Pension Benefit Adjustments [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 1,078,414 | 1,244,711 | 1,349,997 |
| PEO | Year End Fair Value Of Equity Awards Granted In Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 3,169,434 | 6,959,607 | 27,291,422 |
| PEO | Year Over Year Change In Fair Value Of Outstanding And Unvested Equity Awards [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | (895,482) | (6,392,606) | 20,360,204 |
| PEO | Fair Value As Of Vesting Date Of Equity Awards Granted And Vested In The Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PEO | Year Over Year Change In Fair Value Of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years That Vested In The Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 2,822,702 | 910,972 | 979,830 |
| PEO | Fair Value At The End Of The Prior Year Of Equity Awards That Failed To Meet Vesting Conditions In The Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PEO | Value Of Dividends Or Other Earnings Paid On Stock Or Option Awards Not Otherwise Reflected In Fair Value Or Total Compensation [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Reported Value Of Equity Awards [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (1,321,320) | (1,100,104) | (856,252) |
| Non-PEO NEO | Equity Award Adjustments [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 827,418 | 1,109,446 | 3,321,196 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Reported Change In Pension Value [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | (129,789) | (59,414) | (150,803) |
| Non-PEO NEO | Pension Benefit Adjustments [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation, Amount | 196,447 | 240,474 | 384,331 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Year End Fair Value Of Equity Awards Granted In Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 782,272 | 1,311,812 | 2,605,621 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Year Over Year Change In Fair Value Of Outstanding And Unvested Equity Awards [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | (27,500) | (244,037) | 728,029 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Fair Value As Of Vesting Date Of Equity Awards Granted And Vested In The Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Year Over Year Change In Fair Value Of Equity Awards Granted in Prior Years That Vested In The Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 72,646 | 41,671 | (12,455) |
| Non-PEO NEO | Fair Value At The End Of The Prior Year Of Equity Awards That Failed To Meet Vesting Conditions In The Year [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO | Value Of Dividends Or Other Earnings Paid On Stock Or Option Awards Not Otherwise Reflected In Fair Value Or Total Compensation [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount, Equity Awards | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
