Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	Total	Total Costco Stockholders' Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interests
Common stock at beginning of period (shares) at Aug. 28, 2016			437,524
Equity at beginning of period at Aug. 28, 2016	$ 12,332	$ 12,079	$ 2	$ 5,490	$ (1,099)	$ 7,686	$ 253
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	2,714	2,679				2,679	35
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net	98	85			85		13
Stock-based compensation	518	518		518
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects (shares)			2,673
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects	165	165		165
Conversion of convertible notes (shares)			5
Conversion of convertible notes	$ 0	0		0
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares	(2,998)		(2,998)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ (473)	(473)		(41)		(432)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	(41)	(41)	$ 2	(2)		(41)
Cash dividends declared and other	(3,904)	(3,904)				(3,904)
Common stock at end of period (shares) at Sep. 03, 2017			437,204
Equity at end of period at Sep. 03, 2017	11,079	10,778	$ 4	5,800	(1,014)	5,988	301
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	3,179	3,134				3,134	45
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net	(192)	(185)			(185)		(7)
Stock-based compensation	547	547		547
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects (shares)			2,741
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects	$ 217	217		217
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares	(1,756)		(1,756)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ (322)	(322)		(26)		(296)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	(32)	3		3			(35)
Cash dividends declared and other	$ (939)	(939)				(939)
Common stock at end of period (shares) at Sep. 02, 2018	438,189		438,189
Equity at end of period at Sep. 02, 2018	$ 13,103	12,799	$ 4	6,107	(1,199)	7,887	304
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	3,704	3,659				3,659	45
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net	(245)	(237)			(237)		(8)
Stock-based compensation	598	598		598
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects (shares)			2,533
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects	$ 272	272		272
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares	(1,097)		(1,097)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ (247)	(247)		(16)		(231)
Stockholders' Equity, Other	16	16				16
Cash dividends declared and other	$ (1,073)	(1,073)				(1,073)
Common stock at end of period (shares) at Sep. 01, 2019	439,625		439,625
Equity at end of period at Sep. 01, 2019	$ 15,584	$ 15,243	$ 4	$ 6,417	$ (1,436)	$ 10,258	$ 341