Change in Accounting Policy (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2015	Nov. 30, 2014		Aug. 31, 2014
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings [Abstract]
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots	[1]	$ 11	$ 216	[2]
Operating Income		1,468	1,054
Earnings Before Income Tax Provision		1,273	1,198
Income tax provision		167	321
Net Earnings		1,117	877
Net Earnings Attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.		1,110	$ 850
Net earnings per common share attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)			$ 0.90
Net earnings per common share attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.89
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Earnings		1,117	$ 877
Share of other comprehensive income (loss) of Alliance Boots		0	21
Cumulative translation adjustments		(450)	(189)
Total Other Comprehensive Income		(445)	(82)
Total Comprehensive Income		672	795
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.		666	768
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net earnings		1,117	877
Deferred income taxes		(158)	58
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots	[1]	$ (11)	(216)	[2]
Increase in retained earnings, net of tax					$ 98
Alliance Boots [Member]
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings [Abstract]
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots			214
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots			(214)
As Reported [Member]
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings [Abstract]
Operating Income			991
Earnings Before Income Tax Provision			1,135
Income tax provision			299
Net Earnings			836
Net Earnings Attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.			$ 809
Net earnings per common share attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)			$ 0.86
Net earnings per common share attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.85
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Earnings			$ 836
Share of other comprehensive income (loss) of Alliance Boots			(10)
Cumulative translation adjustments			(32)
Total Other Comprehensive Income			44
Total Comprehensive Income			880
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.			853
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net earnings			836
Deferred income taxes			36
As Reported [Member] | Alliance Boots [Member]
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings [Abstract]
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots			151
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots			(151)
Adjustments [Member]
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings [Abstract]
Operating Income			63
Earnings Before Income Tax Provision			63
Income tax provision			22
Net Earnings			41
Net Earnings Attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.			$ 41
Net earnings per common share attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - basic (in dollars per share)			$ 0.04
Net earnings per common share attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. - diluted (in dollars per share)			$ 0.04
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Earnings			$ 41
Share of other comprehensive income (loss) of Alliance Boots			31
Cumulative translation adjustments			(157)
Total Other Comprehensive Income			(126)
Total Comprehensive Income			(85)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.			(85)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net earnings			41
Deferred income taxes			22
Adjustments [Member] | Alliance Boots [Member]
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Earnings [Abstract]
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots			63
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots			$ (63)

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

[2] Includes equity method investment in Alliance Boots. See Note 1, Organization.