Segment Reporting - Segment Results (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Feb. 15, 2014	Feb. 09, 2013	Feb. 15, 2014	Feb. 09, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,990,494	$ 1,855,198	$ 4,084,072	$ 3,846,238
Gross profit	1,037,035	961,981	2,122,733	1,993,847
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses	(699,691)	(644,410)	(1,401,663)	(1,312,999)
Interest expense, net	(39,490)	(41,323)	(81,921)	(82,428)
Income before income taxes	297,854	276,248	639,149	598,420
Auto Parts Stores [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,913,591	1,796,280	3,933,161	3,745,003
Gross profit	994,971	924,704	2,038,986	1,924,039
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	76,903	58,918	150,911	101,235
Gross profit	$ 42,064	$ 37,277	$ 83,747	$ 69,808

Aggregate revenue less cost of goods and services sold or operating expenses directly attributable to the revenue generation activity.

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- Definition

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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- Definition

The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 225

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879574&loc=d3e536633-122882

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 10

-Article 9

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 330

-SubTopic 10

-Section 30

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6386349&loc=d3e3636-108311

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