CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2019	May 31, 2018	May 31, 2019	May 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 34,591	$ 34,334	$ 102,912	$ 98,095
Cost of sales	27,138	26,554	80,063	74,878
Gross profit	7,453	7,780	22,849	23,217
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,235	6,235	18,834	18,466
Equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen	(16)	52	105	142
Operating income	1,203	1,597	4,120	4,893
Other income (expense)	182	0	227	(122)
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	1,385	1,597	4,347	4,771
Interest expense, net	187	157	529	457
Earnings before income tax provision	1,198	1,440	3,819	4,314
Income tax provision	156	109	562	839
Post tax earnings (loss) from other equity method investments	(5)	15	19	42
Net earnings	1,037	1,346	3,275	3,517
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	12	4	(29)	5
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 1,025	$ 1,342	$ 3,305	$ 3,512
Net earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.35	$ 3.56	$ 3.52
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.35	$ 3.55	$ 3.51
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	909.9	992.1	928.8	996.4
Diluted (in shares)	911.2	995.3	931.1	1,000.6