Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Sep. 02, 2018		Sep. 03, 2017
Common Size Balance Sheet	Amount	Percent	Amount	Percent
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$6,055,000,000	14.83%	$4,546,000,000	12.51%
Short-term investments	1,204,000,000	2.95%	1,233,000,000	3.39%
Receivables, net	1,669,000,000	4.09%	1,432,000,000	3.94%
Merchandise inventories	11,040,000,000	27.04%	9,834,000,000	27.06%
Other current assets	321,000,000	0.79%	272,000,000	0.75%
Total current assets	20,289,000,000	49.69%	17,317,000,000	47.64%
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Land	6,193,000,000	15.17%	5,690,000,000	15.65%
Buildings and improvements	16,107,000,000	39.45%	15,127,000,000	41.62%
Equipment and fixtures	7,274,000,000	17.82%	6,681,000,000	18.38%
Construction in progress	1,140,000,000	2.79%	843,000,000	2.32%
Gross property and equipment	30,714,000,000	75.22%	28,341,000,000	77.97%
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	-11,033,000,000	-27.02%	-10,180,000,000	-28.01%
Net property and equipment	19,681,000,000	48.20%	18,161,000,000	49.97%
OTHER ASSETS	860,000,000	2.11%	869,000,000	2.39%
TOTAL ASSETS	40,830,000,000	100.00%	36,347,000,000	100.00%
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	11,237,000,000	27.52%	9,608,000,000	26.43%
Accrued salaries and benefits	2,994,000,000	7.33%	2,703,000,000	7.44%
Accrued member rewards	1,057,000,000	2.59%	961,000,000	2.64%
Deferred membership fees	1,624,000,000	3.98%	1,498,000,000	4.12%
Other current liabilities	3,014,000,000	7.38%	2,725,000,000	7.50%
Total current liabilities	19,926,000,000	48.80%	17,495,000,000	48.13%
LONG-TERM DEBT, excluding current portion	6,487,000,000	15.89%	6,573,000,000	18.08%
OTHER LIABILITIES	1,314,000,000	3.22%	1,200,000,000	3.30%
Total liabilities	27,727,000,000	67.91%	25,268,000,000	69.52%
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
EQUITY
Preferred stock $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding	0	0.00%	0	0.00%
Common stock $0.01 par value; 900,000,000 shares authorized; 438,189,000 and 437,204,000 shares issued and outstanding	4,000,000	0.01%	4,000,000	0.01%
Additional paid-in capital	6,107,000,000	14.96%	5,800,000,000	15.96%
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-1,199,000,000	-2.94%	-1,014,000,000	-2.79%
Retained earnings	7,887,000,000	19.32%	5,988,000,000	16.47%
Total Costco stockholders' equity	12,799,000,000	31.35%	10,778,000,000	29.65%
Noncontrolling interests	304,000,000	0.74%	301,000,000	0.83%
Total equity	13,103,000,000	32.09%	11,079,000,000	30.48%
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$40,830,000,000	100.00%	$36,347,000,000	100.00%

Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	Sep. 02, 2018		Sep. 03, 2017		Aug. 28, 2016
Common Size Income Statement	Amount	Percent	Amount	Percent	Amount	Percent
REVENUE
Total revenue	$141,576	100.00%	$129,025	100.00%	$118,719	100.00%
OPERATING EXPENSES
Merchandise costs	123,152	86.99%	111,882	86.71%	102,901	86.68%
Selling, general and administrative	13,876	9.80%	12,950	10.04%	12,068	10.17%
Preopening expenses	68	0.05%	82	0.06%	78	0.07%
Operating Income	4,480	3.16%	4,111	3.19%	3,672	3.09%
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense	-159	-0.11%	-134	-0.10%	-133	-0.11%
Interest income and other, net	121	0.09%	62	0.05%	80	0.07%
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	4,442	3.14%	4,039	3.13%	3,619	3.05%
Provision for income taxes	1,263	0.89%	1,325	1.03%	1,243	1.05%
Net income including noncontrolling interests	3,179	2.25%	2,714	2.10%	2,376	2.00%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-45	-0.03%	-35	-0.03%	-26	-0.02%
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO	$3,134	2.21%	$2,679	2.08%	$2,350	1.98%
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COSTCO:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$7.15	0.01%	$6.11	0.00%	$5.36	0.00%
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$7.09	0.01%	$6.08	0.00%	$5.33	0.00%
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Basic (shares)	438,515	309.74%	438,437	339.81%	438,585	369.43%
Diluted (shares)	441,834	312.08%	440,937	341.75%	441,263	371.69%
CASH DIVIDEND DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE	$2.14	0.00%	$8.90	0.01%	$1.70	0.00%
Net sales
REVENUE
Total revenue	$138,434	97.78%	$126,172	97.79%	$116,073	97.77%
Membership fees
REVENUE
Total revenue	$3,142	2.22%	$2,853	2.21%	$2,646	2.23%

Profitability, Liquidity and Solvency Ratio Analysis: Calculate the key ratios in each category and evaluate all of them.