Guarantor subsidiaries (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Jul. 29, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Jul. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Feb. 03, 2012	Jan. 28, 2011	Jan. 29, 2010
STATEMENTS OF INCOME:
Net sales	$ 4,185,073	$ 3,595,224	$ 3,575,194	$ 3,451,697	$ 3,486,104	$ 3,223,427	$ 3,214,155	$ 3,111,314	$ 14,807,188	$ 13,035,000	$ 11,796,380
Cost of goods sold									10,109,278	8,858,444	8,106,509
Gross profit	1,346,369	1,115,802	1,148,342	1,087,397	1,130,153	1,010,668	1,035,979	999,756	4,697,910	4,176,556	3,689,871
Selling, general and administrative expenses									3,207,106	2,902,491	2,736,613
Operating profit	508,240	310,917	350,029	321,618	408,251	274,334	300,757	290,723	1,490,804	1,274,065	953,258
Interest income									(91)	(220)	(144)
Interest expense									204,991	274,212	345,744
Other (income) expense									60,615	15,101	55,542
Income before income taxes									1,225,289	984,972	552,116
Income tax expense (benefit)									458,604	357,115	212,674
Net income	292,510	171,164	146,042	156,969	222,546	128,120	141,195	135,996	766,685	627,857	339,442
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF INCOME:
Net sales									338,903	311,280	306,036
Gross profit									338,903	311,280	306,036
Selling, general and administrative expenses									308,094	283,069	337,224
Operating profit									30,809	28,211	(31,188)
Interest income									(39,526)	(44,677)	(52,047)
Interest expense									246,905	300,934	375,280
Other (income) expense									60,615	15,101	55,542
Income before income taxes									(237,185)	(243,147)	(409,963)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(84,819)	(102,448)	(149,478)
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net of taxes									919,051	768,556	599,927
Net income									766,685	627,857	339,442
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF INCOME:
Net sales									14,807,188	13,035,000	11,796,380
Cost of goods sold									10,109,278	8,858,444	8,106,509
Gross profit									4,697,910	4,176,556	3,689,871
Selling, general and administrative expenses									3,242,276	2,948,346	2,734,793
Operating profit									1,455,634	1,228,210	955,078
Interest income									(21,954)	(7,025)	(10,968)
Interest expense									40,362	44,723	52,980
Income before income taxes									1,437,226	1,190,512	913,066
Income tax expense (benefit)									536,194	447,881	346,117
Net income									901,032	742,631	566,949
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF INCOME:
Net sales									84,940	84,878	91,265
Gross profit									84,940	84,878	91,265
Selling, general and administrative expenses									80,579	67,234	61,897
Operating profit									4,361	17,644	29,368
Interest income									(20,924)	(19,986)	(19,674)
Interest expense									37	23	29
Income before income taxes									25,248	37,607	49,013
Income tax expense (benefit)									7,229	11,682	16,035
Net income									18,019	25,925	32,978
ELIMINATIONS
STATEMENTS OF INCOME:
Net sales									(423,843)	(396,158)	(397,301)
Gross profit									(423,843)	(396,158)	(397,301)
Selling, general and administrative expenses									(423,843)	(396,158)	(397,301)
Interest income									82,313	71,468	82,545
Interest expense									(82,313)	(71,468)	(82,545)
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net of taxes									(919,051)	(768,556)	(599,927)
Net income									$ (919,051)	$ (768,556)	$ (599,927)