Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3291-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmt_A0.600FixedRateDebtDue2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmt_A2.800FixedRateDebtDue2016Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmt_A2.875FixedRateDebtDue2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmt_A4.500FixedRateDebtDue2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmt_A2.250FixedRateDebtDue2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmt_VariableRateDebtDue2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmt_A940FixedRateDebtDue2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=wmt_A1.500FixedRateDebtDue2015Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Schedule of Fiscal Year 2017 and 2016 Debt Maturities (Details) ¥ in Millions, $ in Millions								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 15, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 11, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 25, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 08, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 01, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2015 JPY (¥)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Long-term Debt								$ 2,055	$ 4,432	$ 3,904
Unsecured debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayments of Long-term Debt								$ 2,000	$ 4,230
Unsecured debt \| 0.600% Fixed Rate Debt, Due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount		$ 1,000
Interest Rate		0.60%
Repayments of Long-term Debt		$ 1,000
Unsecured debt \| 2.800% Fixed Rate Debt, Due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	$ 1,000
Interest Rate	2.80%
Repayments of Long-term Debt	$ 1,000
Unsecured debt \| 2.875% Fixed Rate Debt, Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount							$ 750
Interest Rate							2.875%
Repayments of Long-term Debt							$ 750
Unsecured debt \| 4.500% Fixed Rate Debt, Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount						$ 750
Interest Rate						4.50%
Repayments of Long-term Debt						$ 750
Unsecured debt \| 2.250% Fixed Rate Debt, Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount					$ 750
Interest Rate					2.25%
Repayments of Long-term Debt					$ 750
Unsecured debt \| Variable Rate Debt, Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount \| ¥											¥ 30,000
Repayments of Long-term Debt				$ 243
Unsecured debt \| .940% Fixed Rate Debt, Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount \| ¥											¥ 60,000
Interest Rate											0.94%
Repayments of Long-term Debt				$ 487
Unsecured debt \| 1.500% Fixed Rate Debt, Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount			$ 1,250
Interest Rate			1.50%
Repayments of Long-term Debt			$ 1,250