Guarantor subsidiaries (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2012	Apr. 29, 2011
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales	$ 3,901,205	$ 3,451,697
Cost of goods sold	2,672,949	2,364,300
Gross profit	1,228,256	1,087,397
Selling, general and administrative expenses	843,932	765,779
Operating profit	384,324	321,618
Interest expense	37,074	65,572
Other (income) expense	1,671	2,272
Income before income taxes	345,579	253,774
Income tax expense (benefit)	132,164	96,805
Net income	213,415	156,969
Comprehensive income	215,944	161,669
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales	83,250	87,517
Gross profit	83,250	87,517
Selling, general and administrative expenses	75,682	79,561
Operating profit	7,568	7,956
Interest income	(9,951)	(12,422)
Interest expense	51,106	74,746
Other (income) expense	1,671	2,272
Income before income taxes	(35,258)	(56,640)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(13,820)	(20,444)
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net of taxes	234,853	193,165
Net income	213,415	156,969
Comprehensive income	215,944	161,669
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales	3,901,205	3,451,697
Cost of goods sold	2,672,949	2,364,300
Gross profit	1,228,256	1,087,397
Selling, general and administrative expenses	851,948	774,568
Operating profit	376,308	312,829
Interest income	(8,576)	(3,981)
Interest expense	9,489	12,451
Income before income taxes	375,395	304,359
Income tax expense (benefit)	144,095	115,046
Net income	231,300	189,313
Comprehensive income	231,300	189,313
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales	23,331	18,814
Gross profit	23,331	18,814
Selling, general and administrative expenses	22,883	17,981
Operating profit	448	833
Interest income	(5,002)	(5,228)
Interest expense	8	6
Income before income taxes	5,442	6,055
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,889	2,203
Net income	3,553	3,852
Comprehensive income	3,553	3,852
ELIMINATIONS
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Net sales	(106,581)	(106,331)
Gross profit	(106,581)	(106,331)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(106,581)	(106,331)
Interest income	23,529	21,631
Interest expense	(23,529)	(21,631)
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net of taxes	(234,853)	(193,165)
Net income	(234,853)	(193,165)
Comprehensive income	$ (234,853)	$ (193,165)