Guarantor subsidiaries (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 01, 2013	Feb. 03, 2012	Jan. 28, 2011	Jan. 29, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 140,809	$ 126,126	$ 497,446	$ 222,076
Merchandise inventories	2,397,175	2,009,206
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	139,129	139,742
Total current assets	2,677,113	2,275,074
Net property and equipment	2,088,665	1,794,960
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,219,543	1,235,954
Other assets, net	43,772	43,943
Total assets	10,367,682	9,688,520
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	892	590
Accounts payable	1,261,607	1,064,087
Accrued expenses and other	357,438	397,075
Income taxes payable	95,387	44,428
Deferred income taxes	23,223	3,722
Total current liabilities	1,738,547	1,509,902
Long-term obligations	2,771,336	2,617,891
Deferred income taxes	647,070	656,996
Other liabilities	225,399	229,149
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	286,185	295,828
Additional paid-in capital	2,991,351	2,967,027
Retained earnings	1,710,732	1,416,918
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,938)	(5,191)
Total shareholders' equity	4,985,330	4,674,582	4,063,632	3,408,784
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	10,367,682	9,688,520
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,759	1,844	111,545	97,620
Deferred income taxes	4,616	10,078
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	654,787	551,457
Total current assets	661,162	563,379
Net property and equipment	126,191	113,661
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,199,700	1,199,200
Other assets, net	8,075,560	6,575,574
Total assets	14,401,202	12,790,403
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	600
Accounts payable	5,780,924	4,654,237
Accrued expenses and other	44,621	79,010
Income taxes payable	51,697	12,972
Total current liabilities	5,877,842	4,746,219
Long-term obligations	3,066,212	2,879,475
Deferred income taxes	429,253	435,791
Other liabilities	42,565	54,336
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	286,185	295,828
Additional paid-in capital	2,991,351	2,967,027
Retained earnings	1,710,732	1,416,918
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(2,938)	(5,191)
Total shareholders' equity	4,985,330	4,674,582
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	14,401,202	12,790,403
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	117,186	102,627	364,404	103,001
Merchandise inventories	2,397,175	2,009,206
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,773,989	4,685,263
Total current assets	8,288,350	6,797,096
Net property and equipment	1,962,375	1,681,072
Other intangible assets, net	19,843	36,754
Other assets, net	15,103	13,260
Total assets	10,285,671	8,528,182
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	292	590
Accounts payable	1,716,370	1,451,277
Accrued expenses and other	252,310	264,575
Income taxes payable	5,411	5,013
Deferred income taxes	51,855	35,529
Total current liabilities	2,026,238	1,756,984
Long-term obligations	3,687,969	3,340,075
Deferred income taxes	266,914	270,736
Other liabilities	42,349	33,156
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	23,855	23,855
Additional paid-in capital	560,779	431,253
Retained earnings	3,677,567	2,672,123
Total shareholders' equity	4,262,201	3,127,231
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	10,285,671	8,528,182
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	21,864	21,655	21,497	21,455
Deferred income taxes	24,016	21,729
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,711	5,768
Total current assets	51,591	49,152
Net property and equipment	99	227
Deferred income taxes	49,097	49,531
Other assets, net	361,999	323,736
Total assets	462,786	422,646
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	51,148	52,362
Accrued expenses and other	69,030	62,447
Income taxes payable	38,279	26,443
Total current liabilities	158,457	141,252
Other liabilities	140,485	141,657
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	100	100
Additional paid-in capital	19,900	19,900
Retained earnings	143,844	119,737
Total shareholders' equity	163,844	139,737
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	462,786	422,646
ELIMINATIONS
Current assets:
Deferred income taxes	(28,632)	(31,807)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(6,295,358)	(5,102,746)
Total current assets	(6,323,990)	(5,134,553)
Deferred income taxes	(49,097)	(49,531)
Other assets, net	(8,408,890)	(6,868,627)
Total assets	(14,781,977)	(12,052,711)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(6,286,835)	(5,093,789)
Accrued expenses and other	(8,523)	(8,957)
Deferred income taxes	(28,632)	(31,807)
Total current liabilities	(6,323,990)	(5,134,553)
Long-term obligations	(3,982,845)	(3,601,659)
Deferred income taxes	(49,097)	(49,531)
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock	(23,955)	(23,955)
Additional paid-in capital	(580,679)	(451,153)
Retained earnings	(3,821,411)	(2,791,860)
Total shareholders' equity	(4,426,045)	(3,266,968)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (14,781,977)	$ (12,052,711)