Represents the management and advisory costs associated with a sponsor advisory agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	dg_ManagementAndAdvisoryFees
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of members serving on the entity's board of directors.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dg_NumberOfMembersServingOnEntitysBoardOfDirectors
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the cash outflow associated with management and advisory costs incurred directly with the issuance of an equity security.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dg_PaymentOfManagementAndAdvisoryFees
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the payment made to the counterparty on an interest rate swap.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dg_RelatedPartyTransactionInterestRateDerivativeCounterPartyPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the transaction costs incurred directly with the issuance of an equity security as percentage of proceeds from the issue.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dg_StockIssuanceCostTransactionFeesAsPercentageOfProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the cash outflow during the period associated with the termination of a previously announced management advisory agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dg_TerminationFeePaid
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the underwriting discount provided by the entity pursuant to the underwriting agreement which reduced net proceeds from stock offering.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dg_UnderwritingDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 29

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3536-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

+ Details

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

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of all interest rate derivatives designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges. Notional amount refers to the monetary amount specified in the interest rate derivative contract.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5580258-113959

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfInterestRateCashFlowHedgeDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow for cost incurred directly with the issuance of an equity security.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 18, 19, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

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

- Details

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

Related party transactions (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Related party transactions (Details) (USD $)	Nov. 27, 2009	Feb. 03, 2012	Jan. 28, 2011	Jan. 29, 2010
Related party transactions
Interest paid		$ 209,351,000	$ 244,752,000	$ 328,433,000
Notional amount of interest rate swap		533,300,000
Underwriting discount	27,400,000
Transaction fees	3,300,000
Affiliates of KKR and Goldman, Sachs & Co., who may be lenders \| Senior secured term loan facility, maturity July 6, 2014
Related party transactions
Interest paid		66,400,000	53,400,000	74,800,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Related party transactions
Notional amount of interest rate swap		116,700,000	323,300,000
Interest rate swap payment		13,900,000	12,900,000	17,900,000
Underwriting discount	6,000,000
KKR
Related party transactions
Number of members serving on the entity's board of directors		2
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Related party transactions
Underwriting discount	6,000,000
KKR and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Related party transactions
Payment of management and advisory fees	63,600,000
Transaction fees as percentage of proceeds from issue	1.00%
Transaction fees	4,800,000
Termination fee paid	58,800,000
Management and advisory fees		0	200,000	68,000,000
KKR Capital Markets
Related party transactions
Underwriting discount	$ 6,000,000