v2.4.1.9
Stock-Based Compensation Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
6 Months Ended
Feb. 15, 2015
Feb. 09, 2015
Aug. 31, 2014
Feb. 04, 2015
Feb. 05, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Additional number of shares authorized 23,500,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized        
Special cash dividend shares adjustment ratio   1.0429cost_SpecialCashDividendSharesAdjustmentRatio      
Special cash dividend exercise price adjustment ratio   0.9589cost_SpecialCashDividendExercisePriceAdjustmentRatio      
Number of stock options outstanding   410,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber      
Number of RSUs outstanding   8,956,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber      
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Additional number of shares authorized 13,429,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfAdditionalSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
       
Additional shares available to be granted   750,000cost_MandatoryProportionalAdjustmentSharesAvailableToGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Number of RSUs outstanding 9,332,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
  9,117,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Number of shares available to be granted as RSUs 18,242,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
       
Time-based RSUs awards outstanding 8,786,000cost_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingTimeBased
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
       
Performance-based RSUs awards outstanding 265,000cost_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingPerformanceBased
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
       
Outstanding performance-based RSUs awards to be granted 281,000cost_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsOutstandingPerformanceBasedToBeGranted
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
       
Unrecognized compensation cost 808us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
       
Weighted-average recognition period 1 year 10 months 2 days        
Closing [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share price       $ 155.92us-gaap_SharePrice
/ cost_StockOptionsAxis
= cost_ClosingMember
 
Opening [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share price         $ 149.50us-gaap_SharePrice
/ cost_StockOptionsAxis
= cost_OpeningMember