CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 11,486	$ 11,221	$ 10,425
Cost of goods sold	7,089	6,873	6,327
Gross profit	4,397	4,348	4,098
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3,135	3,190	3,063
Operating earnings	1,262	1,158	1,035
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense, net	79	82	86
Other, net	(26)	(5)	13
Total other expense, net	53	77	99
Earnings before income taxes	1,209	1,081	936
Income taxes	314	258	313
Net earnings	895	823	623
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	46	41	37
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc.	$ 849	$ 782	$ 586
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 15.39	$ 13.82	$ 10.07
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 15.32	$ 13.73	$ 10.02
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	54.7	56.1	57.7
Diluted (in shares)	54.9	56.5	58.0

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227