Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended | |||
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Jan. 31, 2015
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Jan. 31, 2014
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Jan. 31, 2013
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Jan. 31, 2012
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Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | ||||
Amounts Due from Banks | $ 2,900,000,000wmt_AmountsDuefromBanks | $ 1,600,000,000wmt_AmountsDuefromBanks | ||
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents | 345,000,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents | 654,000,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | 9,135,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | 7,281,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | 7,781,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue | 6,550,000,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue |
Cash Held in Foreign Countries | 6,300,000,000wmt_CashHeldinForeignCountries | 5,800,000,000wmt_CashHeldinForeignCountries | ||
Nonrepatriable Cash and Cash Equivalents | 1,700,000,000wmt_NonrepatriableCashandCashEquivalents | 1,900,000,000wmt_NonrepatriableCashandCashEquivalents | ||
Financing Receivable, Net | 1,200,000,000us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet | 1,300,000,000us-gaap_NotesReceivableNet | ||
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses | 114,000,000us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses | 119,000,000us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLosses | ||
Depreciation and Amortization of Property, Plant and Equipment | 9,100,000,000wmt_DepreciationandAmortizationofPropertyPlantandEquipment | 8,800,000,000wmt_DepreciationandAmortizationofPropertyPlantandEquipment | 8,400,000,000wmt_DepreciationandAmortizationofPropertyPlantandEquipment | |
Capitalized Interest on Construction Projects | 59,000,000wmt_CapitalizedInterestonConstructionProjects | 78,000,000wmt_CapitalizedInterestonConstructionProjects | 74,000,000wmt_CapitalizedInterestonConstructionProjects | |
General Liability Self Insurance Limits | 15,000,000wmt_GeneralLiabilitySelfInsuranceLimits | |||
Worker's Compensation Self Insurance Limits | 5,000,000wmt_WorkersCompensationSelfInsuranceLimits | |||
Advertising Expense | 2,400,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense | 2,400,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense | 2,300,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense | |
Pre-Opening Costs | $ 317,000,000us-gaap_PreOpeningCosts | $ 338,000,000us-gaap_PreOpeningCosts | $ 316,000,000us-gaap_PreOpeningCosts |
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- Definition
Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Net amount of the investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, credit card receivables, notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets. Excludes trade accounts receivable with contractual maturity of one year or less and arose from the sale of goods or services. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Details
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- Definition
Expenditures associated with opening new locations which are noncapital in nature and expensed as incurred. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition
Amounts Due from Banks No definition available.
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- Definition
Capitalized Interest on Construction Projects No definition available.
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- Definition
Cash Held in Foreign Countries No definition available.
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- Definition
Depreciation and Amortization of Property, Plant and Equipment No definition available.
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X | ||||||||||
- Definition
General Liability Self Insurance Limits No definition available.
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- Definition
Nonrepatriable Cash and Cash Equivalents No definition available.
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- Definition
Worker's Compensation Self Insurance Limits No definition available.
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