Guarantor subsidiaries (Details 3) (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
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 292,510	$ 171,164	$ 146,042	$ 156,969	$ 222,546	$ 128,120	$ 141,195	$ 135,996	$ 766,685	$ 627,857	$ 339,442
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									275,408	254,927	256,771
Deferred income taxes									10,232	50,985	14,860
Tax benefit of stock options									(33,102)	(13,905)	(5,390)
Loss on debt retirement, net			58,100	2,200		8,200	6,500		60,303	14,576	55,265
Noncash share-based compensation									15,250	15,956	17,295
Noncash inventory adjustments and asset impairments									48,673	7,607	647
Other noncash gains and losses									5,517	5,942	7,920
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories									(291,492)	(251,809)	(100,248)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									(34,554)	(10,157)	(7,298)
Accounts payable									104,442	123,424	106,049
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									71,763	(42,428)	(12,643)
Income taxes									51,550	42,903	1,153
Other									(195)	(1,194)	(1,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities									1,050,480	824,684	672,823
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment									(514,861)	(420,395)	(250,747)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment									1,026	1,448	2,701
Net cash used in investing activities									(513,835)	(418,947)	(248,046)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock									177	631	443,753
Repayments of long-term obligations									(911,951)	(131,180)	(784,180)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility									1,157,800
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility									(973,100)
Repurchase of common stock from principal shareholder									(185,000)
Payment of cash dividends and related amounts											(239,731)
Equity settlements with employees, net of taxes paid									(28,993)	(13,723)	(5,928)
Tax benefit of stock options									33,102	13,905	5,390
Net cash used in financing activities									(907,965)	(130,367)	(580,696)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(371,320)	275,370	(155,919)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				497,446				222,076	497,446	222,076	377,995
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	126,126				497,446				126,126	497,446	222,076
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									766,685	627,857	339,442
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									31,793	33,015	36,541
Deferred income taxes									1,649	17,817	(18,571)
Tax benefit of stock options									(33,102)	(13,905)	(5,390)
Loss on debt retirement, net									60,303	14,576	55,265
Noncash share-based compensation									15,250	15,956	17,295
Other noncash gains and losses									653	1,395	3,221
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net									(919,051)	(768,556)	(599,927)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									(19,361)	(1,646)	2,582
Accounts payable									(17,678)	(5,446)	26,535
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									20,799	(28,442)	(20,672)
Income taxes									47,681	18,136	48,494
Other									(3)	816	(3,203)
Net cash provided by operating activities									(44,382)	(88,427)	(118,388)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment									(30,403)	(22,830)	(34,647)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment									33
Net cash used in investing activities									(30,370)	(22,830)	(34,647)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock									177	631	443,753
Repayments of long-term obligations									(910,677)	(129,217)	(782,518)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility									1,157,800
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility									(973,100)
Repurchase of common stock from principal shareholder									(185,000)
Payment of cash dividends and related amounts											(239,731)
Equity settlements with employees, net of taxes paid									(28,993)	(13,723)	(5,928)
Tax benefit of stock options									33,102	13,905	5,390
Changes in intercompany note balances, net									871,742	253,586	537,052
Net cash used in financing activities									(34,949)	125,182	(41,982)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(109,701)	13,925	(195,017)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				111,545				97,620	111,545	97,620	292,637
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	1,844				111,545				1,844	111,545	97,620
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									901,032	742,631	566,949
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									243,485	221,851	220,048
Deferred income taxes									25,328	47,719	67,317
Noncash inventory adjustments and asset impairments									48,673	7,607	647
Other noncash gains and losses									4,864	4,547	4,699
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories									(291,492)	(251,809)	(100,248)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									(12,671)	(3,642)	(10,252)
Accounts payable									120,607	124,120	79,515
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									45,015	(12,410)	10,494
Income taxes									(8,233)	14,891	(50,112)
Other									(121)	(2,008)	2,171
Net cash provided by operating activities									1,076,487	893,497	791,228
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment									(484,388)	(397,322)	(216,032)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment									993	1,448	2,701
Net cash used in investing activities									(483,395)	(395,874)	(213,331)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term obligations									(1,274)	(1,963)	(1,662)
Changes in intercompany note balances, net									(853,595)	(234,257)	(537,638)
Net cash used in financing activities									(854,869)	(236,220)	(539,300)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(261,777)	261,403	38,597
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				364,404				103,001	364,404	103,001	64,404
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	102,627				364,404				102,627	364,404	103,001
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									18,019	25,925	32,978
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									130	61	182
Deferred income taxes									(16,745)	(14,551)	(33,886)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									(2,522)	(4,869)	372
Accounts payable									1,513	4,750	(1)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									5,949	(1,576)	(2,465)
Income taxes									12,102	9,876	2,771
Other									(71)	(2)	32
Net cash provided by operating activities									18,375	19,614	(17)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment									(70)	(243)	(68)
Net cash used in investing activities									(70)	(243)	(68)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany note balances, net									(18,147)	(19,329)	586
Net cash used in financing activities									(18,147)	(19,329)	586
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									158	42	501
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				21,497				21,455	21,497	21,455	20,954
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	21,655				21,497				21,655	21,497	21,455
ELIMINATIONS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									(919,051)	(768,556)	(599,927)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net									$ 919,051	$ 768,556	$ 599,927