CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Net sales	$ 2,522,565	$ 2,506,104	$ 4,962,226	$ 4,891,731
Cost of merchandise sold	1,449,133	1,425,418	2,795,052	2,735,074
Gross profit	1,073,432	1,080,686	2,167,174	2,156,657
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses	716,715	739,935	1,459,209	1,461,567
Operating earnings	356,717	340,751	707,965	695,090
Other income and (expense):
Interest income	277	413	469	1,053
Interest expense	(4,184)	(2,757)	(5,819)	(5,620)
Loss from equity method investment	(4,302)	0	(4,302)	0
Other non-operating income	484	177	726	345
Other non-operating expense	(306)	(159)	(2,714)	(830)
Total other expense	(8,031)	(2,326)	(11,640)	(5,052)
Earnings before income taxes	348,686	338,425	696,325	690,038
Income taxes	123,451	129,348	256,944	261,906
Net earnings	225,235	209,077	439,381	428,132
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,687	3,162	7,818	5,564
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc.	$ 220,548	$ 205,915	$ 431,563	$ 422,568
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.28	$ 2.97	$ 6.38	$ 6.08
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.25	$ 2.94	$ 6.32	$ 6.00
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	66,652,130	68,453,602	66,939,110	68,576,232
Diluted (in shares)	67,317,131	69,341,885	67,647,689	69,509,125
Cash dividends paid per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.17	$ 1.08	$ 2.25	$ 2.01