Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2020	Mar. 02, 2019	Feb. 29, 2020	Mar. 02, 2019
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 786,094	$ 823,004	$ 1,609,695	$ 1,654,601
Cost of goods sold	455,042	471,190	931,447	944,802
Gross profit	331,052	351,814	678,248	709,799
Operating expenses	253,382	255,833	510,280	510,818
Income from operations	77,670	95,981	167,968	198,981
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(3,495)	(4,539)	(6,666)	(8,595)
Interest income	68	164	78	326
Other (expense) income, net	(70)	(237)	51	(235)
Total other expense	(3,497)	(4,612)	(6,537)	(8,504)
Income before provision for income taxes	74,173	91,369	161,431	190,477
Provision for income taxes	18,617	22,939	40,423	47,815
Net income	55,556	68,430	121,008	142,662
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	56	6	90	6
Net income attributable to MSC Industrial	$ 55,500	$ 68,424	$ 120,918	$ 142,656
Net income per common share:
Basic	$ 1.00	$ 1.24	$ 2.18	$ 2.58
Diluted	$ 1.00	$ 1.24	$ 2.18	$ 2.56
Weighted average shares used in computing net income per common share:
Basic	55,467	55,139	55,371	55,320
Diluted	55,587	55,362	55,545	55,619