Commitments and contingencies (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 02, 2013	Jan. 01, 2010 Cynthia Richter, et al. v. Dolgencorp, Inc ("Richter") Pending litigation person	Aug. 02, 2013 Cynthia Richter, et al. v. Dolgencorp, Inc ("Richter") Pending litigation	Aug. 10, 2013 Cynthia Richter, et al. v. Dolgencorp, Inc ("Richter") Pending litigation	Aug. 10, 2012 Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., et al. v. Dolgencorp, LLC Pending litigation item	May 27, 2011 Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., et al. v. Dolgencorp, LLC Pending litigation item	Mar. 05, 2014 Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., et al. v. Dolgencorp, LLC Pending litigation Subsequent event item	Feb. 01, 2013 Jonathan Marcum v. Dolgencorp. Inc. Pending litigation	Jan. 31, 2014 Jonathan Marcum v. Dolgencorp. Inc. Pending litigation item	Apr. 09, 2012 Jonathan Marcum v. Dolgencorp. Inc. Pending litigation person	Feb. 18, 2014 Jonathan Marcum v. Dolgencorp. Inc. Pending litigation Subsequent event
Legal proceedings
Minimum number of current or former Dollar General store managers to whom notice was mailed		28,000
Approximate number of persons who opted into the lawsuit		3,950
Approximate number of opt-in plaintiffs dismissed		1,000
Self insured retention under Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI)									$ 2
Amount accrued for loss contingency	8.5		8.5					1.8
Number of Plaintiffs whose conditional offer of employment was rescinded										1
Approximate number of stores co-located with one of the plaintiffs' stores						55
Expected amount sought by plaintiffs				$ 8.50		$ 47.00					$ 4.08
Number of stores for which the court did not dismiss the claims for injunctive relief					4		13
Number of formal settlement discussions									3