CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 11,797	$ 11,486	$ 11,221
Cost of goods sold	7,559	7,089	6,873
Gross profit	4,238	4,397	4,348
Selling, general and administrative expenses	3,219	3,135	3,190
Operating earnings	1,019	1,262	1,158
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense, net	93	79	82
Other, net	(21)	(26)	(5)
Total other expense, net	72	53	77
Earnings before income taxes	947	1,209	1,081
Income tax provision	192	314	258
Net earnings	755	895	823
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	60	46	41
Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc.	$ 695	$ 849	$ 782
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 12.88	$ 15.39	$ 13.82
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 12.82	$ 15.32	$ 13.73
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	53.5	54.7	56.1
Diluted (in shares)	53.7	54.9	56.5

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://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 924
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.L)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472922&loc=d3e499488-122856

Reference 2: 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=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227