CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 132,509	$ 121,982	$ 120,074
Cost of sales	104,442	95,905	91,915
Gross profit	28,067	26,078	28,159
Selling, general and administrative expenses	24,586	25,436	23,557
Equity (loss) earnings in AmerisourceBergen	(1,139)	341	164
Operating income	2,342	982	4,766
Other income	558	77	243
Earnings before interest and income tax provision	2,900	1,060	5,009
Interest expense, net	905	613	650
Earnings before income tax provision	1,995	446	4,359
Income tax provision	667	339	577
Post tax earnings from other equity method investments	627	31	8
Net earnings from continuing operations	1,955	138	3,790
Net earnings from discontinued operations	557	286	172
Net earnings	2,512	424	3,962
Net (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests - continuing operations	(39)	(42)	(26)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - discontinued operations	9	9	6
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.	2,542	456	3,982
Net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.:
Continuing operations	1,994	180	3,816
Discontinued operations	$ 548	$ 277	$ 166
Basic net earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 2.31	$ 0.20	$ 4.14
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	2.94	0.52	4.32
Diluted net earnings per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	2.30	0.20	4.13
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.63	0.31	0.18
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 2.93	$ 0.52	$ 4.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	864.8	879.4	921.5
Diluted (in shares)	866.4	880.3	923.5