CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2017	May 31, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 30,118	$ 29,498	$ 88,065	$ 88,715
Cost of sales	22,973	22,065	66,243	65,996
Gross profit	7,145	7,433	21,822	22,719
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,712	5,903	17,522	17,861
Equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen	84	3	143	3
Operating income	1,517	1,533	4,443	4,861
Other income (expense)	(8)	28	(22)	(525)
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	1,509	1,561	4,421	4,336
Interest expense, net	155	147	500	425
Earnings before income tax provision	1,354	1,414	3,921	3,911
Income tax provision	168	322	634	790
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	(21)	15	7	35
Net earnings	1,165	1,107	3,294	3,156
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	3	4	18	13
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 1,162	$ 1,103	$ 3,276	$ 3,143
Net earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 1.02	$ 3.03	$ 2.90
Diluted (in dollars per share)	1.07	1.01	3.02	2.88
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.3750	$ 0.3600	$ 1.1250	$ 1.0800
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	1,077.1	1,080.8	1,079.6	1,083.3
Diluted (in shares)	1,082.6	1,088.2	1,085.5	1,091.7