Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 02, 2019	Mar. 03, 2018	Mar. 02, 2019	Mar. 03, 2018
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 823,004	$ 768,987	$ 1,654,601	$ 1,537,548
Cost of goods sold	471,190	431,764	944,802	865,256
Gross profit	351,814	337,223	709,799	672,292
Operating expenses	255,833	239,120	510,818	474,911
Income from operations	95,981	98,103	198,981	197,381
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense	(4,539)	(3,550)	(8,595)	(6,787)
Interest income	164	213	326	376
Other (expense) income, net	(237)	77	(235)	(331)
Total other expense	(4,612)	(3,260)	(8,504)	(6,742)
Income before provision for income taxes	91,369	94,843	190,477	190,639
Provision (Benefit) for income taxes	22,939	(22,709)	47,815	13,502
Net income	68,430	117,552	142,662	177,137
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	6		6
Net income attributable to MSC Industrial	$ 68,424	$ 117,552	$ 142,656	$ 177,137
Net income per common share:
Basic	$ 1.24	$ 2.08	$ 2.58	$ 3.14
Diluted	$ 1.24	$ 2.06	$ 2.56	$ 3.12
Weighted average shares used in computing net income per common share:
Basic	55,139	56,439	55,320	56,363
Diluted	55,362	56,892	55,619	56,698