CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Net sales	$ 2,506,104	$ 2,381,561	$ 4,891,731	$ 4,661,996
Cost of merchandise sold	1,425,418	1,334,577	2,735,074	2,583,276
Gross profit	1,080,686	1,046,984	2,156,657	2,078,720
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses	739,935	696,912	1,461,567	1,385,344
Operating earnings	340,751	350,072	695,090	693,376
Other income and (expense):
Interest income	413	796	1,053	1,694
Interest expense	(2,757)	(3,201)	(5,620)	(6,367)
Other non-operating income	177	164	345	2,146
Other non-operating expense	(159)	(311)	(830)	(1,405)
Total other expense	(2,326)	(2,552)	(5,052)	(3,932)
Earnings before income taxes	338,425	347,520	690,038	689,444
Income taxes	129,348	126,767	261,906	254,164
Net earnings	209,077	220,753	428,132	435,280
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	3,162	3,093	5,564	5,782
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc.	$ 205,915	$ 217,660	$ 422,568	$ 429,498
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.97	$ 3.08	$ 6.08	$ 6.07
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.94	$ 3.03	$ 6.00	$ 5.97
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	68,453,602	69,664,697	68,576,232	69,613,947
Diluted (in shares)	69,341,885	70,801,050	69,509,125	70,788,203
Cash dividends paid per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 0.93	$ 2.01	$ 1.73