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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