Segment Reporting - Segment Results (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Feb. 14, 2015	Feb. 15, 2014	Feb. 14, 2015	Feb. 15, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,143,651us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 1,990,494us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 4,403,916us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 4,084,072us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Gross profit	1,120,033us-gaap_GrossProfit	1,037,035us-gaap_GrossProfit	2,296,694us-gaap_GrossProfit	2,122,733us-gaap_GrossProfit
Operating, selling, general and administrative expenses	(758,764)	(699,691)	(1,526,863)	(1,401,663)
Interest expense, net	(34,536)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet	(39,490)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet	(71,596)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet	(81,921)us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet
Income before income taxes	326,733	297,854	698,235	639,149
Auto Parts Stores [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,059,711	1,913,591	4,241,243	3,933,161
Gross profit	1,075,078	994,971	2,207,413	2,038,986
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	83,940	76,903	162,673	150,911
Gross profit	$ 44,955	$ 42,064	$ 89,281	$ 83,747

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

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 940

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35710027&loc=d3e41242-110953

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 5

+ Details

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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

+ Details

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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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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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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=34747878&loc=d3e3636-108311

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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