Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2016	Dec. 01, 2016
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001020859
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--07-29
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Oct. 29, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		50,584,496