Quarterly financial data (unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2014 WK	Nov. 01, 2013 WK	Aug. 02, 2013 WK	May 03, 2013 WK	Feb. 01, 2013 WK	Nov. 02, 2012 WK	Aug. 03, 2012 WK	May 04, 2012 WK	Jan. 31, 2014 Q	Feb. 01, 2013 Q	Feb. 03, 2012 Q
Selected unaudited quarterly financial data
Number of weeks in a quarter	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13
Number of quarters in a year									4	4	4
Net sales	$ 4,493,945,000	$ 4,381,838,000	$ 4,394,651,000	$ 4,233,733,000	$ 4,207,621,000	$ 3,964,647,000	$ 3,948,655,000	$ 3,901,205,000	$ 17,504,167,000	$ 16,022,128,000	$ 14,807,188,000
Gross profit	1,434,811,000	1,328,493,000	1,377,290,000	1,295,148,000	1,367,799,000	1,226,123,000	1,263,223,000	1,228,256,000	5,435,742,000	5,085,401,000	4,697,910,000
Operating profit	538,122,000	390,241,000	412,822,000	395,000,000	522,349,000	361,389,000	387,214,000	384,324,000	1,736,185,000	1,655,276,000	1,490,804,000
Net income	322,173,000	237,385,000	245,475,000	220,083,000	317,422,000	207,685,000	214,140,000	213,415,000	1,025,116,000	952,662,000	766,685,000
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ 0.74	$ 0.76	$ 0.67	$ 0.97	$ 0.62	$ 0.64	$ 0.64	$ 3.17	$ 2.87	$ 2.25
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ 0.74	$ 0.75	$ 0.67	$ 0.97	$ 0.62	$ 0.64	$ 0.63	$ 3.17	$ 2.85	$ 2.22
Loss on debt retirement, net									18,871,000	30,620,000	60,303,000
Loss on agreement to settle a legal matter			8,500,000
Loss on agreement to settle a legal matter, net of tax			5,200,000
Effect of agreement to settle a legal matter on earnings per diluted share (in dollars per share)			$ 0.02
Senior Secured Credit Facilities
Selected unaudited quarterly financial data
Loss on debt retirement, net				18,900,000					18,900,000
Loss on debt retirement, net of tax				11,500,000
Effect of pretax loss on debt retirement on earnings per diluted share (in dollars per share)				$ 0.04
Senior Subordinated Notes due July 15, 2017
Selected unaudited quarterly financial data
Loss on debt retirement, net							29,000,000			29,000,000
Loss on debt retirement, net of tax							$ 17,700,000
Effect of pretax loss on debt retirement on earnings per diluted share (in dollars per share)							$ 0.05