CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 488,741	$ 452,063
Accounts receivable (less allowances for doubtful accounts of $18,541 and $19,449, respectively)	1,075,592	940,020
Inventories - net	1,221,888	1,301,935
Prepaid expenses and other assets	109,490	110,414
Deferred income taxes	56,290	55,967
Prepaid income taxes	10,183	40,241
Total current assets	2,962,184	2,900,640
PROPERTY, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT	2,791,071	2,760,434
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,672,321	1,615,861
Property, buildings and equipment - net	1,118,750	1,144,573
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	53,414	51,536
GOODWILL	513,545	543,670
OTHER ASSETS AND INTANGIBLES - NET	382,242	374,179
TOTAL ASSETS	5,030,135	5,014,598
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-term debt	70,007	79,071
Current maturities of long-term debt	25,502	18,525
Trade accounts payable	452,179	428,782
Accrued compensation and benefits	157,259	165,450
Accrued contributions to employees' profit sharing plans	90,152	170,434
Accrued expenses	182,682	204,800
Income taxes payable	9,104	12,941
Total current liabilities	986,885	1,080,003
LONG-TERM DEBT (less current maturities)	452,449	467,048
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES AND TAX UNCERTAINTIES	118,326	119,280
EMPLOYMENT-RELATED AND OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	230,280	230,901
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Cumulative Preferred Stock - $5 par value - 12,000,000 shares authorized; none issued nor outstanding	0	0
Common Stock - $0.50 par value - 300,000,000 shares authorized; issued 109,659,219 shares	54,830	54,830
Additional contributed capital	855,112	812,573
Retained earnings	5,585,752	5,278,577
Accumulated other comprehensive losses	365	53,578
Treasury stock, at cost - 40,162,000 and 40,180,724 shares, respectively	(3,331,524)	(3,175,646)
Total W.W. Grainger, Inc. shareholders' equity	3,164,535	3,023,912
Noncontrolling Interest	77,660	93,454
Total shareholders' equity	3,242,195	3,117,366
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 5,030,135	$ 5,014,598