Guarantor subsidiaries (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010	Oct. 28, 2011	Oct. 29, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 171,164	$ 128,120	$ 474,175	$ 405,311
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			204,771	189,739
Deferred income taxes			23,977	31,620
Tax benefit of stock options			(16,101)	(6,413)
Loss on debt retirement, net			60,303	14,576
Non-cash share-based compensation			10,969	11,620
Other non-cash gains and losses			31,656	7,920
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories			(350,932)	(366,903)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(30,899)	(26,412)
Accounts payable			164,336	146,933
Accrued expenses and other			89,993	1,091
Income taxes			(57,575)	(4,178)
Other			(174)	(1,108)
Net cash provided by operating activities			604,499	403,796
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(363,099)	(259,243)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			729	868
Net cash used in investing activities			(362,370)	(258,375)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock			177	599
Repayments of long-term obligations			(911,708)	(130,654)
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement			1,485,000
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit agreement			(1,197,200)
Repurchases of common stock and settlement of equity awards, net of employee taxes paid			(13,365)	(5,949)
Tax benefit of stock options			16,101	6,413
Net cash used in financing activities			(620,995)	(129,591)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(378,866)	15,830
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			497,446	222,076
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	118,580	237,906	118,580	237,906
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	171,164	128,120	474,175	405,311
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			24,008	24,906
Deferred income taxes			1,527	26,633
Tax benefit of stock options			(16,101)	(6,413)
Loss on debt retirement, net			60,303	14,576
Non-cash share-based compensation			10,969	11,620
Other non-cash gains and losses			562	953
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net	(193,976)	(160,601)	(601,596)	(518,942)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(17,129)	4,601
Accounts payable			21,248	2,301
Accrued expenses and other			32,950	(969)
Income taxes			(48,077)	(39,194)
Other			(2)	7
Net cash provided by operating activities			(57,163)	(74,610)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(20,956)	(16,115)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			16
Net cash used in investing activities			(20,940)	(16,115)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of common stock			177	599
Repayments of long-term obligations			(910,677)	(129,217)
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement			1,485,000
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit agreement			(1,197,200)
Repurchases of common stock and settlement of equity awards, net of employee taxes paid			(13,365)	(5,949)
Tax benefit of stock options			16,101	6,413
Changes in intercompany note balances, net			587,289	166,591
Net cash used in financing activities			(32,675)	38,437
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(110,778)	(52,288)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			111,545	97,620
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	767	45,332	767	45,332
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	188,759	153,503	588,002	500,177
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			180,666	164,795
Deferred income taxes			24,573	16,161
Other non-cash gains and losses			31,094	6,967
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories			(350,932)	(366,903)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(13,125)	(30,332)
Accounts payable			143,080	144,634
Accrued expenses and other			50,916	2,200
Income taxes			(16,644)	12,865
Other			(100)	(1,113)
Net cash provided by operating activities			637,530	449,451
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(342,078)	(242,963)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			713	868
Net cash used in investing activities			(341,365)	(242,095)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term obligations			(1,031)	(1,437)
Changes in intercompany note balances, net			(565,513)	(138,982)
Net cash used in financing activities			(566,544)	(140,419)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(270,379)	66,937
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			364,404	103,001
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	94,025	169,938	94,025	169,938
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	5,217	7,098	13,594	18,765
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			97	38
Deferred income taxes			(2,123)	(11,174)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(645)	(681)
Accounts payable			8	(2)
Accrued expenses and other			6,127	(140)
Income taxes			7,146	22,151
Other			(72)	(2)
Net cash provided by operating activities			24,132	28,955
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(65)	(165)
Net cash used in investing activities			(65)	(165)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany note balances, net			(21,776)	(27,609)
Net cash used in financing activities			(21,776)	(27,609)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			2,291	1,181
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			21,497	21,455
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	23,788	22,636	23,788	22,636
ELIMINATIONS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	(193,976)	(160,601)	(601,596)	(518,942)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net	$ 193,976	$ 160,601	$ 601,596	$ 518,942