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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. as reported | $ 151,059 | $ 162,006 | $ 97,921 | $ 174,744 | $ 60,666 | $ 185,873 | $ 172,676 | $ 186,713 | $ 585,730 | $ 605,928 | $ 768,996
Distributed earnings available to participating securities, basic |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,005) | (2,383) | (2,823)
Undistributed earnings available to participating securities, basic |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,678) | (3,044) | (4,735)
Numerator for basic earnings per share - Undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 581,047 | 600,501 | 761,438
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities, diluted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,678 | 3,044 | 4,735
Undistributed earnings reallocated to participating securities, diluted |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,663) | (3,023) | (4,692)
Numerator for diluted earnings per share - Undistributed and distributed earnings available to common shareholders |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 581,062 | $ 600,522 | $ 761,481
Denominator for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 57,674,977 | 60,430,892 | 65,156,864
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 308,190 | 409,038 | 608,257
Denominator for diluted earnings per share – weighted average shares adjusted for dilutive securities (in shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 57,983,167 | 60,839,930 | 65,765,121
Basic (in dollars per share) | $ 2.64 | $ 2.80 | $ 1.68 | $ 2.95 | $ 1.02 | $ 3.07 | $ 2.81 | $ 3.00 | $ 10.07 | $ 9.94 | $ 11.69
Diluted (in dollars per share) | $ 2.63 | $ 2.79 | $ 1.67 | $ 2.93 | $ 1.01 | $ 3.05 | $ 2.79 | $ 2.98 | $ 10.02 | $ 9.87 | $ 11.58

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