CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 16,478	$ 15,228	$ 13,022
Cost of goods sold	9,982	9,379	8,302
Gross profit	6,496	5,849	4,720
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3,931	3,634	3,173
Operating earnings	2,565	2,215	1,547
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense – net	93	93	87
Other – net	(28)	(24)	(25)
Total other expense – net	65	69	62
Earnings before income taxes	2,500	2,146	1,485
Income tax provision	597	533	371
Net earnings	1,903	1,613	1,114
Less net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	74	66	71
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc.	$ 1,829	$ 1,547	$ 1,043
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 36.39	$ 30.22	$ 19.94
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 36.23	$ 30.06	$ 19.84
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	49.9	50.9	51.9
Diluted (in shares)	50.1	51.1	52.2