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Investments - Available for Sale and Held to Maturity Investments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified
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Feb. 15, 2015
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Aug. 31, 2014
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| Available For Sale And Held To Maturity [Line Items] |
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| Available-For-Sale, Cost Basis |
$ 1,557us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis |
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| Available-for-sale, Recorded Basis, Total |
1,560us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities |
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| Held-to-maturity, Cost Basis |
27us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities |
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| Total investments, Recorded Basis |
1,587us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments |
1,577us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments |
| Short-term Investments |
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| Available For Sale And Held To Maturity [Line Items] |
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| Unrealized gains |
3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
| Total investments, Cost Basis |
1,584cost_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAndHeldToMaturitySecuritiesAtCostBasis / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
1,576cost_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAndHeldToMaturitySecuritiesAtCostBasis / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
| Total investments, Recorded Basis |
1,587us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
1,577us-gaap_ShortTermInvestments / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
| Short-term Investments | Available-for-sale Securities |
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| Available For Sale And Held To Maturity [Line Items] |
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| Available-For-Sale, Cost Basis |
1,557us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
1,408us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
| Unrealized gains |
3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
| Available-for-sale, Recorded Basis, Total |
1,560us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
1,409us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
| Short-term Investments | Available-for-sale Securities | Government and agency securities |
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| Available For Sale And Held To Maturity [Line Items] |
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| Available-For-Sale, Cost Basis |
1,553us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_GovernmentandAgencySecuritiesMember |
1,404us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_GovernmentandAgencySecuritiesMember |
| Unrealized gains |
3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_GovernmentandAgencySecuritiesMember |
1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_GovernmentandAgencySecuritiesMember |
| Available-for-sale, Recorded Basis, Total |
1,556us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_GovernmentandAgencySecuritiesMember |
1,405us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_GovernmentandAgencySecuritiesMember |
| Short-term Investments | Available-for-sale Securities | Asset and mortgage backed securities |
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| Available For Sale And Held To Maturity [Line Items] |
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| Available-For-Sale, Cost Basis |
4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_AssetAndMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember |
4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_AssetAndMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember |
| Unrealized gains |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_AssetAndMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember |
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainLossBeforeTax / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_AssetAndMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember |
| Available-for-sale, Recorded Basis, Total |
4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_AssetAndMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember |
4us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_AvailableforsaleSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_AssetAndMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember |
| Short-term Investments | Held-to-maturity Securities |
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| Available For Sale And Held To Maturity [Line Items] |
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| Held-to-maturity, Cost Basis |
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168us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
| Held-to-maturity, Recorded Basis, Total |
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168us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember |
| Short-term Investments | Held-to-maturity Securities | Certificates of Deposit [Member] |
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| Available For Sale And Held To Maturity [Line Items] |
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| Held-to-maturity, Cost Basis |
27us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember |
155us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember |
| Held-to-maturity, Recorded Basis, Total |
27us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember |
155us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember |
| Short-term Investments | Held-to-maturity Securities | Bankers' Acceptances |
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| Available For Sale And Held To Maturity [Line Items] |
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| Held-to-maturity, Cost Basis |
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13us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecurities / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_BankersAcceptancesMember |
| Held-to-maturity, Recorded Basis, Total |
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$ 13us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesFairValue / invest_InvestmentAxis = us-gaap_HeldtomaturitySecuritiesMember / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember / us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis = cost_BankersAcceptancesMember |