CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2021	Feb. 29, 2020	Feb. 28, 2021	Feb. 29, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 32,779	$ 31,336	$ 64,217	$ 61,247
Cost of sales	25,998	24,318	50,806	47,453
Gross profit	6,781	7,017	13,411	13,794
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,029	5,909	11,820	11,778
Equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen	80	28	(1,293)	41
Operating income	832	1,136	298	2,057
Other income	251	28	313	64
Earnings before interest and tax	1,083	1,164	611	2,121
Interest expense, net	137	156	272	315
Earnings before tax	946	1,008	339	1,806
Income tax provision (benefit)	42	149	(165)	172
Post tax earnings (loss) from other equity method investments	13	12	29	(1)
Net earnings from continuing operations	918	870	532	1,633
Net earnings from discontinued operations	107	81	194	160
Net earnings	1,025	952	726	1,793
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests - continuing operations	(4)	3	1	(3)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations	3	2	7	5
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	1,026	946	718	1,791
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	922	867	531	1,636
Discontinued operations	104	79	187	155
Total	$ 1,026	$ 946	$ 718	$ 1,791
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 0.98	$ 0.61	$ 1.84
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.12	0.09	0.22	0.17
Total (in dollars per share)	1.19	1.07	0.83	2.02
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.06	0.98	0.61	1.84
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.12	0.09	0.22	0.17
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 1.19	$ 1.07	$ 0.83	$ 2.01
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	864.2	884.5	864.7	887.9
Diluted (in shares)	865.6	885.5	865.7	889.1