CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2016		Aug. 31, 2015		Aug. 31, 2014
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS [Abstract]
Sales	$ 117,351	[1]	$ 103,444	[1]	$ 76,392
Cost of sales	87,477		76,691		54,823
Gross Profit	29,874	[1]	26,753	[1]	21,569
Selling, general and administrative expense	23,910		22,400		17,992
Equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen	37		0		0
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots	0		315	[2]	617	[2]
Operating Income	6,001		4,668		4,194
Gain on previously held equity interest	0		563		0
Other income (expense)	(261)		685		(481)
Earnings Before Interest and Income Tax Provision	5,740		5,916		3,713
Interest expense, net	596		605		156
Earnings Before Income Tax Provision	5,144		5,311		3,557
Income tax provision	997		1,056		1,526
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	44		24		0
Net Earnings	4,191		4,279		2,031
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	18		59		99
Net Earnings Attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 4,173	[1]	$ 4,220	[1]	$ 1,932
Net earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.85		$ 4.05		$ 2.03
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.82		$ 4.00		$ 2.00
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	1,083.1		1,043.2		953.1
Diluted (in shares)	1,091.1		1,053.9		965.2

[1] To improve comparability, certain classification changes have been made to fiscal 2016 for the quarterly periods ended November 30, 2015, February 29, 2016, and May 31, 2016 and to fiscal 2015 for the quarterly periods ended February 29, 2015, May 31, 2015, and August 31, 2015 to Sales, Cost of sales and Selling, general and administrative expenses. This change has no impact on Operating Income.

[2] Earnings in foreign equity method investments are translated at their respective average exchange rates.