Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
May 07, 2011	May 08, 2010	May 07, 2011	May 08, 2010
Net Sales
Net sales	$ 1,978,369	$ 1,821,990	$ 5,430,977	$ 4,917,459
Segment Profit
Gross profit	1,013,530	923,121	2,766,889	2,476,781
Operating, selling, general and administrative	(620,605)	(567,256)	(1,796,095)	(1,630,106)
Interest expense, net	(39,916)	(36,833)	(116,745)	(109,483)
Income before income taxes	353,009	319,032	854,049	737,192
Segment Reporting (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of operating segments			2
Number of reportable segments			1
Number of automotive parts and accessories stores in the United States, including Puerto Rico and Mexico	4,728		4,728
Auto Parts Stores [Member]
Net Sales
Net sales	1,939,094	1,787,069	5,318,031	4,816,288
Segment Profit
Gross profit	983,256	895,163	2,678,814	2,394,959
Other [Member]
Net Sales
Net sales	39,275	34,921	112,946	101,171
Segment Profit
Gross profit	$ 30,274	$ 27,958	$ 88,075	$ 81,822

Total interest expense, net of Interest Income and Capitalized Interest

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Number of operating segments.

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Number of reportable segments

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Segment Reporting Information Gross Profit [Abstract]

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Segment Reporting.

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- Definition

Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1,2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 5
-Section 03
-Paragraph 10

+ Details

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Represents the number of stores.

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Generally recurring costs associated with normal operations except for the portion of these expenses which can be clearly related to production and included in cost of sales or services. Includes selling, general and administrative expense.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 5
-Section 03
-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

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