CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2020	Feb. 28, 2019	Feb. 29, 2020	Feb. 28, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 35,820	$ 34,528	$ 70,160	$ 68,321
Cost of sales	28,307	26,773	55,384	52,925
Gross profit	7,513	7,754	14,776	15,395
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,308	6,320	12,570	12,599
Equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen	28	83	41	121
Operating income	1,233	1,517	2,247	2,918
Other income	25	19	60	45
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	1,259	1,536	2,307	2,963
Interest expense, net	162	181	328	342
Earnings before income tax provision	1,097	1,356	1,979	2,621
Income tax provision	160	226	193	406
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	15	9	7	24
Net earnings	952	1,138	1,793	2,238
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	5	(18)	2	(41)
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	$ 946	$ 1,156	$ 1,791	$ 2,279
Net earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 1.25	$ 2.02	$ 2.43
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 1.24	$ 2.01	$ 2.42
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	884.5	928.4	887.9	938.3
Diluted (in shares)	885.5	930.7	889.1	941.1