Segment Results (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	May 05, 2012	Feb. 11, 2012	Nov. 19, 2011	May 07, 2011	Feb. 12, 2011	Nov. 20, 2010	Aug. 25, 2012	Aug. 27, 2011	Aug. 25, 2012	Aug. 27, 2011	Aug. 28, 2010
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,111,866	$ 1,804,069	$ 1,924,341	$ 1,978,369	$ 1,660,946	$ 1,791,662	$ 2,763,585	$ 2,641,996	$ 8,603,863	$ 8,072,973	$ 7,362,618
Gross profit	1,089,799	926,215	983,627	1,013,530	845,611	907,748	1,432,394	1,352,574	4,432,036	4,119,463	3,711,744
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses									(2,803,145)	(2,624,660)	(2,392,330)
Interest expense, net									(175,905)	(170,557)	(158,909)
Income before income taxes	387,507	261,728	301,840	353,009	232,172	268,868	501,911	470,197	1,452,986	1,324,246	1,160,505
Assets							6,265,639	5,869,602	6,265,639	5,869,602
Capital Expenditures									378,054	321,604	315,400
Net sales	2,111,866	1,804,069	1,924,341	1,978,369	1,660,946	1,791,662	2,763,585	2,641,996	8,603,863	8,072,973	7,362,618
Auto Parts Stores [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									8,422,559	7,906,692	7,213,753
Gross profit									4,292,474	3,989,852	3,591,464
Assets							6,214,688	5,827,285	6,214,688	5,827,285	5,531,955
Capital Expenditures									364,361	316,074	307,725
Net sales									8,422,559	7,906,692	7,213,753
Other [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									181,304	166,281	148,865
Gross profit									139,562	129,611	120,280
Assets							50,951	42,317	50,951	42,317	39,639
Capital Expenditures									13,693	5,530	7,675
Net sales									181,304	166,281	148,865
Total [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Assets							6,265,639	5,869,602	6,265,639	5,869,602	5,571,594
Capital Expenditures									378,054	321,604	315,400
Failure [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									3,793,963	3,530,497	3,145,528
Net sales									3,793,963	3,530,497	3,145,528
Maintenance items [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									3,196,807	3,051,672	2,792,610
Net sales									3,196,807	3,051,672	2,792,610
Discretionary [Member]
Operating Statistics [Line Items]
Net sales									1,431,789	1,324,523	1,275,615
Net sales									$ 1,431,789	$ 1,324,523	$ 1,275,615