Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483076/450-20-50-1

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Topic 210
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-Paragraph 1
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-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of reserve for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs, which is expected to be paid within one year of the date of the statement of financial position.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount of estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs, which is expected to be paid after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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- Definition

Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 450
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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 720
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 460
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Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 450
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Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 460
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Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 450
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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period.

+ References

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Litigation Settlement, Damages Limit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Litigation Settlement, Percentage Of Litigating Subdivisions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wba_
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- Definition

Litigation Settlement, Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wba_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Commitments and contingencies (Details) $ in Millions				1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
Commitments and contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 18, 2024 USD ($)	Mar. 19, 2024 USD ($)	Nov. 02, 2022 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 case	Dec. 31, 2017 case	Aug. 31, 2024 USD ($)	Dec. 29, 2023 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Jun. 08, 2023	Nov. 30, 2022 USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrued litigation obligations							$ 6,008		$ 6,261
Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount awarded to other party		$ 988
Estimated litigation liability		79
Damages limit		$ 79
Rite Aid Merger
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of cases \| case					2
Rite Aid Merger \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimated litigation liability							193
Settlement Frameworks \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrued litigation obligations			$ 754
Litigation settlement, period			6 years
Estimated litigation liability											$ 6,500
Settlement Frameworks \| Settled Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Accrued litigation obligations							6,000
Estimated litigation liability, current							623
Estimated litigation liability							6,600
Percentage of litigating subdivisions										99.70%
Settling States \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, period			15 years
Estimated litigation liability			$ 4,800
Settling States \| Settled Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, period			15 years
Settling Tribes \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimated litigation liability			$ 155
Ohio Combined Cases \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount awarded to other party				$ 651
Litigation settlement, period				15 years
Number of cases \| case						2
Ohio Combined Cases \| Settled Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount awarded to other party	$ 28
Usual and Customary Pricing \| Pending Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Estimated litigation liability							339
Humana \| Settled Litigation
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement, amount awarded to other party							$ 642
Accrued litigation obligations								$ 360