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SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (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
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) [Abstract]                      
Net sales $ 2,632,461 $ 2,635,999 $ 2,615,269 $ 2,541,129 $ 2,470,710 $ 2,596,288 $ 2,563,668 $ 2,506,538 $ 10,424,858 $ 10,137,204 $ 9,973,384
Cost of merchandise sold 1,611,232 1,618,819 1,575,313 1,521,937 1,481,017 1,556,536 1,523,609 1,461,485 6,327,301 6,022,647 5,741,956
Gross profit 1,021,229 1,017,180 1,039,956 1,019,192 989,693 1,039,752 1,040,059 1,045,053 4,097,557 4,114,557 4,231,428
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses 781,290 736,010 807,891 723,704 815,464 717,165 734,470 727,961 3,048,895 2,995,060 2,931,108
Operating earnings 239,939 281,170 232,065 295,488 174,229 322,587 305,589 317,092 1,048,662 1,119,497 1,300,320
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. $ 151,059 $ 162,006 $ 97,921 $ 174,744 $ 60,666 $ 185,873 $ 172,676 $ 186,713 $ 585,730 $ 605,928 $ 768,996
Earnings per share - 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
Earnings per share - 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