Guarantor subsidiaries (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2013	Nov. 02, 2012	Aug. 03, 2012	May 04, 2012	Feb. 03, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Jul. 29, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011	Feb. 01, 2013	Feb. 03, 2012	Jan. 28, 2011
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales	$ 4,207,621	$ 3,964,647	$ 3,948,655	$ 3,901,205	$ 4,185,073	$ 3,595,224	$ 3,575,194	$ 3,451,697	$ 16,022,128	$ 14,807,188	$ 13,035,000
Cost of goods sold									10,936,727	10,109,278	8,858,444
Gross profit	1,367,799	1,226,123	1,263,223	1,228,256	1,346,369	1,115,802	1,148,342	1,087,397	5,085,401	4,697,910	4,176,556
Selling, general and administrative expenses									3,430,125	3,207,106	2,902,491
Operating profit	522,349	361,389	387,214	384,324	508,240	310,917	350,029	321,618	1,655,276	1,490,804	1,274,065
Interest expense									127,926	204,900	273,992
Other (income) expense									29,956	60,615	15,101
Income before income taxes									1,497,394	1,225,289	984,972
Income tax expense (benefit)									544,732	458,604	357,115
Net income	317,422	207,685	214,140	213,415	292,510	171,164	146,042	156,969	952,662	766,685	627,857
Comprehensive income									954,915	781,790	641,728
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales									347,089	338,903	311,280
Gross profit									347,089	338,903	311,280
Selling, general and administrative expenses									315,536	308,094	283,069
Operating profit									31,553	30,809	28,211
Interest income									(41,379)	(39,526)	(44,677)
Interest expense									190,171	246,905	300,934
Other (income) expense									29,956	60,615	15,101
Income before income taxes									(147,195)	(237,185)	(243,147)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(70,306)	(84,819)	(102,448)
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net of taxes									1,029,551	919,051	768,556
Net income									952,662	766,685	627,857
Comprehensive income									954,915	781,790	641,728
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales									16,022,128	14,807,188	13,035,000
Cost of goods sold									10,936,727	10,109,278	8,858,444
Gross profit									5,085,401	4,697,910	4,176,556
Selling, general and administrative expenses									3,478,458	3,242,276	2,948,346
Operating profit									1,606,943	1,455,634	1,228,210
Interest income									(42,668)	(21,954)	(7,025)
Interest expense									40,469	40,362	44,723
Income before income taxes									1,609,142	1,437,226	1,190,512
Income tax expense (benefit)									603,698	536,194	447,881
Net income									1,005,444	901,032	742,631
Comprehensive income									1,005,444	901,032	742,631
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales									98,900	84,940	84,878
Gross profit									98,900	84,940	84,878
Selling, general and administrative expenses									82,120	80,579	67,234
Operating profit									16,780	4,361	17,644
Interest income									(18,703)	(20,924)	(19,986)
Interest expense									36	37	23
Income before income taxes									35,447	25,248	37,607
Income tax expense (benefit)									11,340	7,229	11,682
Net income									24,107	18,019	25,925
Comprehensive income									24,107	18,019	25,925
ELIMINATIONS
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales									(445,989)	(423,843)	(396,158)
Gross profit									(445,989)	(423,843)	(396,158)
Selling, general and administrative expenses									(445,989)	(423,843)	(396,158)
Interest income									102,750	82,404	71,688
Interest expense									(102,750)	(82,404)	(71,688)
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net of taxes									(1,029,551)	(919,051)	(768,556)
Net income									(1,029,551)	(919,051)	(768,556)
Comprehensive income									$ (1,029,551)	$ (919,051)	$ (768,556)