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Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	May 07, 2011	Feb. 12, 2011	Nov. 20, 2010	May 08, 2010	Feb. 13, 2010	Nov. 21, 2009	Aug. 27, 2011 LegalMatter Manager SecuritiesHold Store Year Strategy DerivativeInstrument	Aug. 28, 2010	Aug. 27, 2011 Year ReportableSegment Plaintiffs OperatingSegment LegalMatter Manager SecuritiesHold Store Strategy DerivativeInstrument	Aug. 28, 2010	Aug. 29, 2009
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 1,978,369	$ 1,660,946	$ 1,791,662	$ 1,821,990	$ 1,506,225	$ 1,589,244	$ 2,641,996	$ 2,445,159	$ 8,072,973	$ 7,362,618	$ 6,816,824
Segment Profit:
Gross profit	1,013,530	845,611	907,748	923,121	753,736	799,924	1,352,574	1,234,963	4,119,463	3,711,744	3,416,449
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses									(2,624,660)	(2,392,330)	(2,240,387)
Interest expense, net									(170,557)	(158,909)	(142,316)
Income before income taxes	353,009	232,172	268,868	319,032	194,072	224,088	470,197	423,313	1,324,246	1,160,505	1,033,746
Segment Assets:
Assets							5,869,602	5,571,594	5,869,602	5,571,594
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditures									321,604	315,400	272,247
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							4,813		4,813
Auto Parts Stores [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales									7,906,692	7,213,753	6,671,939
Segment Profit:
Gross profit									3,989,852	3,591,464	3,296,777
Segment Assets:
Assets							5,827,285	5,531,955	5,827,285	5,531,955	5,279,454
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditures									316,074	307,725	260,448
Other [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales									166,281	148,865	144,885
Segment Profit:
Gross profit									129,611	120,280	119,672
Segment Assets:
Assets							42,317	39,639	42,317	39,639	38,951
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditures									5,530	7,675	11,799
Total [Member]
Segment Assets:
Assets							5,869,602	5,571,594	5,869,602	5,571,594	5,318,405
Capital Expenditures:
Capital Expenditures									321,604	315,400	272,247
Failure [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales									3,530,497	3,145,528	2,816,126
Maintenance items [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales									3,051,672	2,792,610	2,655,113
Discretionary [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales									$ 1,324,523	$ 1,275,615	$ 1,200,700