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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Nov. 23, 2014
warehouse
Nov. 24, 2013
Aug. 31, 2014
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments $ 23us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments    
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax   9us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax  
Number Of Warehouses Operated 671cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated    
Inventory LIFO reserve cumulative impact 107us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserve   109us-gaap_InventoryLIFOReserve
Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Notional amount of forward foreign - exchange derivative $ 554invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
  $ 585invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
/ us-gaap_DerivativeByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
UNITED STATES      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 474cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
   
Number of states in country 43cost_NumberOfStatesInCountry
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
   
CANADA      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 88cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_CA
   
MEXICO      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 34cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_MX
   
UNITED KINGDOM      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 26cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_GB
   
JAPAN      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 20cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_JP
   
TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 10cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_TW
   
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 11cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_KR
   
AUSTRALIA      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 7cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_AU
   
SPAIN      
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]      
Number Of Warehouses Operated 1cost_NumberOfWarehousesOperated
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_ES