CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2017	Aug. 31, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 118,214	$ 117,351	$ 103,444
Cost of sales	89,052	87,477	76,691
Gross profit	29,162	29,874	26,753
Selling, general and administrative expenses	23,740	23,910	22,400
Equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen	135	37	0
Equity earnings in Alliance Boots	0	0	315
Operating income	5,557	6,001	4,668
Gain on previously held equity interest	0	0	563
Other income (expense)	(11)	(261)	685
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	5,546	5,740	5,916
Interest expense, net	693	596	605
Earnings before income tax provision	4,853	5,144	5,311
Income tax provision	760	997	1,056
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	8	44	24
Net earnings	4,101	4,191	4,279
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	23	18	59
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 4,078	$ 4,173	$ 4,220
Net earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.80	$ 3.85	$ 4.05
Diluted (in dollars per share)	3.78	3.82	4.00
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.525	$ 1.455	$ 1.373
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	1,073.5	1,083.1	1,043.2
Diluted (in shares)	1,078.5	1,091.1	1,053.9