Consolidated Statement Of Shareholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Common stock	Capital in excess of par value	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Total Walmart shareholders' equity	Noncontrolling interest
Consolidated net income	$ 15,080			$ 14,694		$ 14,694	$ 386
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	(4,970)				$ (4,429)	(4,429)	(541)
Balances, in shares at Jan. 31, 2015		3,228
Balances at Jan. 31, 2015	85,937	$ 323	$ 2,462	85,777	(7,168)	81,394	4,543
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared	(6,294)			(6,294)		(6,294)
Purchase of Company stock (in shares)		(65)
Purchase of Company stock	(4,256)	$ (6)	(102)	(4,148)		(4,256)
Cash dividend declared to noncontrolling interest	(691)						(691)
Other, in shares		(1)
Other	(1,195)	$ 0	(555)	(8)		(563)	(632)
Balances, in shares at Jan. 31, 2016		3,162
Balances at Jan. 31, 2016	83,611	$ 317	1,805	90,021	(11,597)	80,546	3,065
Consolidated net income	14,293			13,643		13,643	650
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	(2,845)				(2,635)	(2,635)	(210)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared	(6,216)			(6,216)		(6,216)
Purchase of Company stock (in shares)		(120)
Purchase of Company stock	(8,276)	$ (12)	(174)	(8,090)		(8,276)
Cash dividend declared to noncontrolling interest	(519)						(519)
Other, in shares		6
Other	487		740	(4)		736	(249)
Balances, in shares at Jan. 31, 2017		3,048
Balances at Jan. 31, 2017	80,535	$ 305	2,371	89,354	(14,232)	77,798	2,737
Consolidated net income	10,523			9,862		9,862	661
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	4,220				4,051	4,051	169
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cash dividends declared	(6,124)			(6,124)		(6,124)
Purchase of Company stock (in shares)		(103)
Purchase of Company stock	(8,204)	$ (10)	(219)	(7,975)		(8,204)
Cash dividend declared to noncontrolling interest	(687)						(687)
Other, in shares		7
Other	559		496	(10)		486	73
Balances, in shares at Jan. 31, 2018		2,952
Balances at Jan. 31, 2018	$ 80,822	$ 295	$ 2,648	$ 85,107	$ (10,181)	$ 77,869	$ 2,953