Segment Reporting - Segment Results (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 04, 2013	Feb. 09, 2013	Nov. 17, 2012	May 05, 2012	Feb. 11, 2012	Nov. 19, 2011	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 25, 2012	Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 25, 2012	Aug. 27, 2011
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,205,878	$ 1,855,198	$ 1,991,040	$ 2,111,866	$ 1,804,069	$ 1,924,341	$ 3,095,414	$ 2,763,585	$ 9,147,530	$ 8,603,863	$ 8,072,973
Gross profit	1,142,713	961,981	1,031,866	1,089,799	926,215	983,627	1,604,376	1,432,394	4,740,935	4,432,036	4,119,463
Assets							6,892,089	6,265,639	6,892,089	6,265,639
Interest expense, net									(185,415)	(175,905)	(170,557)
Capital Expenditures									414,451	378,054	321,604
Income before income taxes	413,939	276,248	322,172	387,507	261,728	301,840	575,324	501,911	1,587,683	1,452,986	1,324,246
Operating Segments [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									9,147,530	8,603,863	8,072,973
Gross profit									4,740,935	4,432,036	4,119,463
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses									(2,967,837)	(2,803,145)	(2,624,660)
Assets							6,892,089	6,265,639	6,892,089	6,265,639	5,869,602
Interest expense, net									(185,415)	(175,905)	(170,557)
Capital Expenditures									414,451	378,054	321,604
Income before income taxes									1,587,683	1,452,986	1,324,246
Operating Segments [Member] | Auto Parts Stores [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									8,858,723	8,422,559	7,906,692
Gross profit									4,568,190	4,292,474	3,989,852
Assets							6,719,885	6,214,688	6,719,885	6,214,688	5,827,285
Capital Expenditures									402,028	364,361	316,074
Operating Segments [Member] | Auto Parts Stores [Member] | Failure [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									4,214,642	3,793,963	3,530,497
Operating Segments [Member] | Auto Parts Stores [Member] | Maintenance Items [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									3,224,229	3,196,807	3,051,672
Operating Segments [Member] | Auto Parts Stores [Member] | Discretionary [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									1,419,852	1,431,789	1,324,523
Operating Segments [Member] | Other [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									288,807	181,304	166,281
Gross profit									172,745	139,562	129,611
Assets							172,204	50,951	172,204	50,951	42,317
Capital Expenditures									$ 12,423	$ 13,693	$ 5,530