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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Mar. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]    
Net sales $ 2,766,401 $ 2,541,129
Cost of merchandise sold 1,674,642 1,521,937
Gross profit 1,091,759 1,019,192
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses 756,929 726,691
Operating earnings 334,830 292,501
Other income (expense):    
Interest income 628 193
Interest expense (24,665) (18,713)
Loss from equity method investment (11,497) (8,374)
Other, net 7,698 5,066
Total other expense, net (27,836) (21,828)
Earnings before income taxes 306,994 270,673
Income taxes 66,209 87,820
Net earnings 240,785 182,853
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest 9,250 8,109
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. $ 231,535 $ 174,744
Earnings per share:    
Basic (in dollars per share) $ 4.09 $ 2.95
Diluted (in dollars per share) $ 4.07 $ 2.93
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:    
Basic (in shares) 56,062,607 58,720,066
Diluted (in shares) 56,403,246 59,202,882
Cash dividends paid per share (in dollars per share) $ 1.28 $ 1.22