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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Jun. 30, 2015 | Mar. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. as reported | $ 60,666 | $ 185,873 | $ 172,676 | $ 186,713 | $ 145,232 | $ 192,201 | $ 220,548 | $ 211,015 | $ 605,928 | $ 768,996 | $ 801,729
Distributed earnings available to participating securities, basic |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,383) | (2,823) | (3,154)
Undistributed earnings available to participating securities, basic |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3,044) | (4,735) | (6,370)
Numerator for basic earnings per share - Undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 600,501 | 761,438 | 792,205
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities, diluted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,044 | 4,735 | 6,370
Undistributed earnings reallocated to participating securities, diluted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (3,023) | (4,692) | (6,290)
Numerator for diluted earnings per share - Undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 600,522 | $ 761,481 | $ 792,285
Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60,430,892 | 65,156,864 | 68,334,322
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 409,038 | 608,257 | 871,422
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted average shares adjusted for dilutive securities (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 60,839,930 | 65,765,121 | 69,205,744
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ 1.02 | $ 3.07 | $ 2.81 | $ 3.00 | $ 2.32 | $ 2.94 | $ 3.28 | $ 3.11 | $ 9.94 | $ 11.69 | $ 11.59
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ 1.01 | $ 3.05 | $ 2.79 | $ 2.98 | $ 2.30 | $ 2.92 | $ 3.25 | $ 3.07 | $ 9.87 | $ 11.58 | $ 11.45

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