Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Mar. 24, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	LULU
Entity Registrant Name	lululemon athletica inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001397187
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		127,494,121
Entity Public Float			$ 5,091,622