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 Sep. 01, 2019			439,625
Equity at beginning of period at Sep. 01, 2019	$ 15,584	$ 15,243	$ 4	$ 6,417	$ (1,436)	$ 10,258	$ 341
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	4,059	4,002				4,002	57
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net	162	139			139		23
Stock-based compensation	621	621		621
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects (shares)			2,273
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects	$ (330)	(330)		(330)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares	(643)		(643)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ (198)	(198)		(10)		(188)
Cash dividends declared and other	(1,193)	(1,193)				(1,193)
Common stock at end of period (shares) at Aug. 30, 2020			441,255
Equity at end of period at Aug. 30, 2020	18,705	18,284	$ 4	6,698	(1,297)	12,879	421
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	5,079	5,007				5,007	72
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net	181	160			160		21
Stock-based compensation	668	668		668
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects (shares)			1,928
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects	$ (312)	(312)		(312)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares	(1,358)		(1,358)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ (495)	(495)		(23)		(472)
Cash dividends declared and other	$ (5,748)	(5,748)				(5,748)
Common stock at end of period (shares) at Aug. 29, 2021	441,825		441,825
Equity at end of period at Aug. 29, 2021	$ 18,078	17,564	$ 4	7,031	(1,137)	11,666	514
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	5,915	5,844				5,844	71
Foreign-currency translation adjustment and other, net	(721)	(686)			(686)		(35)
Stock-based compensation	728	728		728
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects (shares)			1,702
Release of vested RSUs, including tax effects	(363)	(363)		(363)
Dividend to noncontrolling interest	(208)						(208)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	$ (842)	(505)		(499)	(6)		(337)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Shares	(863)		(863)
Stock Repurchased and Retired During Period, Value	$ (442)	(442)		(15)		(427)
Stockholders' Equity, Other			$ (2)	2
Cash dividends declared and other	$ (1,498)	(1,498)				(1,498)
Common stock at end of period (shares) at Aug. 28, 2022	442,664		442,664
Equity at end of period at Aug. 28, 2022	$ 20,647	$ 20,642	$ 2	$ 6,884	$ (1,829)	$ 15,585	$ 5