Available increase in aggregate amount borrowed

No definition available.

Name:	msm_AvailableIncreaseInAggregateAmountBorrowed
Namespace Prefix:	msm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio To Indebtedness

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	msm_MaximumConsolidatedLeverageRatioToIndebtedness
Namespace Prefix:	msm_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio Of Ebitda To Interest Expense

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	msm_MinimumConsolidatedInterestCoverageRatioOfEbitdaToInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	msm_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Usage fee, percent

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	msm_UsageFeePercent
Namespace Prefix:	msm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash outflow for payment of an obligation from a lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for a borrowing having initial term of repayment within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfShortTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=msm_TermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=msm_NewCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=msm_FederalFundsEffectiveRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=msm_LeverageRatioMarginMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt And Capital Lease Obligations (Credit Facility) (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 03, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 29, 2015 USD ($)	Aug. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 22, 2013 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowings under Credit Facility	$ 305,000	$ 336,000	$ 135,000
Repayments of debt	301,000	243,000	$ 77,500
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Payments under revolving loans from credit facility	276,000	218,000
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of debt	$ 25,000	$ 25,000
New Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				$ 650,000
Maturity date	Apr. 01, 2018
Available increase in amount borrowed	$ 200,000
Borrowing rate under Credit Facility	1.52%
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio of total indebtedness to EBITDA	3.00
Minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of EBITDA to total interest expense	3.00
New Credit Facility [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				400,000
Credit facility, expiration term	5 years
New Credit Facility [Member] \| Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity				$ 250,000
Credit facility, expiration term	5 years
New Credit Facility [Member] \| Letter of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly undrawn fee	0.125%
LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage points in addition to reference rate used in computation of variable rate on debt instrument	1.00%
LIBOR [Member] \| New Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage points in addition to reference rate used in computation of variable rate on debt instrument	1.00%
Federal Funds Effective Rate [Member] \| New Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage points in addition to reference rate used in computation of variable rate on debt instrument	0.50%
Minimum [Member] \| New Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly undrawn fee	0.10%
Minimum [Member] \| New Credit Facility [Member] \| Letter of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Usage fee, percent	1.00%
Minimum [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| New Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage points in addition to reference rate used in computation of variable rate on debt instrument	1.00%
Minimum [Member] \| Leverage Ratio Margin [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage points in addition to reference rate used in computation of variable rate on debt instrument	0.00%
Maximum [Member] \| New Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly undrawn fee	0.20%
Maximum [Member] \| New Credit Facility [Member] \| Letter of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Usage fee, percent	1.375%
Maximum [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| New Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage points in addition to reference rate used in computation of variable rate on debt instrument	1.375%
Maximum [Member] \| Leverage Ratio Margin [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage points in addition to reference rate used in computation of variable rate on debt instrument	0.375%