Guarantor subsidiaries (Details 3) (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
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 317,422	$ 207,685	$ 214,140	$ 213,415	$ 292,510	$ 171,164	$ 146,042	$ 156,969	$ 952,662	$ 766,685	$ 627,857
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									302,911	275,408	254,927
Deferred income taxes									(2,605)	10,232	50,985
Tax benefit of stock options									(87,752)	(33,102)	(13,905)
Loss on debt retirement, net									30,620	60,303	14,576
Noncash share-based compensation									21,664	15,250	15,956
Other noncash gains and losses									6,774	54,190	13,549
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories									(391,409)	(291,492)	(251,809)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									5,553	(34,554)	(10,157)
Accounts payable									194,035	104,442	123,424
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									(36,741)	71,763	(42,428)
Income taxes									138,711	51,550	42,903
Other									(3,071)	(195)	(1,194)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									1,131,352	1,050,480	824,684
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment									(571,596)	(514,861)	(420,395)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment									1,760	1,026	1,448
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(569,836)	(513,835)	(418,947)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term obligations									500,000
Repayments of long-term obligations									(478,255)	(911,951)	(131,180)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility									2,286,700	1,157,800
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility									(2,184,900)	(973,100)
Debt issuance costs									(15,278)
Repurchase of common stock									(671,459)	(186,597)
Other equity transactions, net of employee taxes paid									(71,393)	(27,219)	(13,092)
Tax benefit of stock options									87,752	33,102	13,905
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(546,833)	(907,965)	(130,367)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									14,683	(371,320)	275,370
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				126,126				497,446	126,126	497,446	222,076
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	140,809				126,126				140,809	126,126	497,446
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									952,662	766,685	627,857
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									31,385	31,793	33,015
Deferred income taxes									(13,256)	1,649	17,817
Tax benefit of stock options									(87,752)	(33,102)	(13,905)
Loss on debt retirement, net									30,620	60,303	14,576
Noncash share-based compensation									21,664	15,250	15,956
Other noncash gains and losses									(2,354)	653	1,395
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net									(1,029,551)	(919,051)	(768,556)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									22,814	(19,361)	(1,646)
Accounts payable									46,388	(17,678)	(5,446)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									(39,728)	20,799	(28,442)
Income taxes									126,477	47,681	18,136
Other									(501)	(3)	816
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									58,868	(44,382)	(88,427)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment									(29,094)	(30,403)	(22,830)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment									167	33
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(28,927)	(30,370)	(22,830)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term obligations									500,000
Repayments of long-term obligations									(477,665)	(910,677)	(129,217)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility									2,286,700	1,157,800
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility									(2,184,900)	(973,100)
Debt issuance costs									(15,278)
Repurchase of common stock									(671,459)	(186,597)
Other equity transactions, net of employee taxes paid									(71,393)	(27,219)	(13,092)
Tax benefit of stock options									87,752	33,102	13,905
Changes in intercompany note balances, net									516,217	871,742	253,586
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(30,026)	(34,949)	125,182
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									(85)	(109,701)	13,925
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				1,844				111,545	1,844	111,545	97,620
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	1,759				1,844				1,759	1,844	111,545
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									1,005,444	901,032	742,631
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									271,367	243,485	221,851
Deferred income taxes									12,504	25,328	47,719
Other noncash gains and losses									9,128	53,537	12,154
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories									(391,409)	(291,492)	(251,809)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									(18,110)	(12,671)	(3,642)
Accounts payable									148,871	120,607	124,120
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									(2,424)	45,015	(12,410)
Income taxes									398	(8,233)	14,891
Other									(2,460)	(121)	(2,008)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									1,033,309	1,076,487	893,497
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment									(542,471)	(484,388)	(397,322)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment									1,593	993	1,448
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(540,878)	(483,395)	(395,874)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term obligations									(590)	(1,274)	(1,963)
Changes in intercompany note balances, net									(477,282)	(853,595)	(234,257)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(477,872)	(854,869)	(236,220)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									14,559	(261,777)	261,403
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				102,627				364,404	102,627	364,404	103,001
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	117,186				102,627				117,186	102,627	364,404
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									24,107	18,019	25,925
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization									159	130	61
Deferred income taxes									(1,853)	(16,745)	(14,551)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets									849	(2,522)	(4,869)
Accounts payable									(1,224)	1,513	4,750
Accrued expenses and other liabilities									5,411	5,949	(1,576)
Income taxes									11,836	12,102	9,876
Other									(110)	(71)	(2)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities									39,175	18,375	19,614
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment									(31)	(70)	(243)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities									(31)	(70)	(243)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany note balances, net									(38,935)	(18,147)	(19,329)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(38,935)	(18,147)	(19,329)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents									209	158	42
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year				21,655				21,497	21,655	21,497	21,455
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	21,864				21,655				21,864	21,655	21,497
ELIMINATIONS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income									(1,029,551)	(919,051)	(768,556)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net									$ 1,029,551	$ 919,051	$ 768,556