Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2019	Dec. 01, 2018
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 823,601	$ 831,597
Cost of goods sold	476,405	473,612
Gross profit	347,196	357,985
Operating expenses	256,898	254,985
Income from operations	90,298	103,000
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(3,171)	(4,056)
Interest income	10	162
Other income, net	121	2
Total other expense	(3,040)	(3,892)
Income before provision for income taxes	87,258	99,108
Provision for income taxes	21,806	24,876
Net income	65,452	74,232
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	34
Net income attributable to MSC Industrial	$ 65,418	$ 74,232
Net income per common share:
Basic	$ 1.18	$ 1.34
Diluted	$ 1.18	$ 1.33
Weighted average shares used in computing net income per common share:
Basic	55,275	55,502
Diluted	55,444	55,831