CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 34,030	$ 30,364	$ 98,247	$ 91,612
Cost of sales	26,877	24,406	77,684	71,858
Gross profit	7,153	5,959	20,564	19,753
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,116	7,884	17,936	19,663
Equity earnings (loss) in AmerisourceBergen	97	243	(1,196)	284
Operating income (loss)	1,134	(1,683)	1,432	374
Other income (expense)	159	(32)	473	32
Earnings (loss) before interest and tax	1,294	(1,715)	1,905	407
Interest expense, net	545	148	817	463
Earnings (loss) before tax	749	(1,862)	1,088	(56)
Income tax provision (benefit)	246	(43)	81	129
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	575	6	604	5
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1,078	(1,813)	1,610	(180)
Net earnings from discontinued operations	95	88	289	248
Net earnings (loss)	1,173	(1,726)	1,899	68
Net (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests - continuing operations	(27)	(20)	(25)	(23)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations	2	2	9	7
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	1,197	(1,708)	1,915	83
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	1,105	(1,794)	1,636	(157)
Discontinued operations	92	86	279	241
Total	$ 1,197	$ (1,708)	$ 1,915	$ 83
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.28	$ (2.05)	$ 1.89	$ (0.18)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.11	0.10	0.32	0.27
Total (in dollars per share)	1.38	(1.95)	2.21	0.09
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.27	(2.05)	1.89	(0.18)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.11	0.10	0.32	0.27
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 1.38	$ (1.95)	$ 2.21	$ 0.09
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	864.7	875.4	864.7	883.7
Diluted (in shares)	867.0	875.4	866.2	884.7