Guarantor subsidiaries (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2012	Apr. 29, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 213,415	$ 156,969
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	72,271	67,486
Deferred income taxes	(1,119)	7,393
Tax benefit of stock options	(18,589)	(434)
Loss on debt retirement, net	1,629	2,167
Noncash share-based compensation	4,759	3,519
Other noncash gains and losses	2,828	4,574
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories	6,499	(5,275)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,370	(32,369)
Accounts payable	(82,227)	(25,922)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(30,218)	38,810
Income taxes	19,306	6,671
Other	(1,285)	(17)
Net cash provided by operating activities	192,639	223,572
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(145,857)	(91,958)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	119	367
Net cash used in investing activities	(145,738)	(91,591)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term obligations	(202)	(27,151)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	584,900
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility	(321,800)
Debt issue costs	(7,663)
Repurchase of common stock from principal shareholder	(300,000)
Equity transactions with employees, net of taxes paid	(14,321)	(247)
Tax benefit of stock options	18,589	434
Net cash used in financing activities	(40,497)	(26,964)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	6,404	105,017
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	126,126	497,446
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	132,530	602,463
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	213,415	156,969
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	7,520	8,162
Deferred income taxes	5,439	3,719
Tax benefit of stock options	(18,589)	(434)
Loss on debt retirement, net	1,629	2,167
Noncash share-based compensation	4,759	3,519
Other noncash gains and losses	109	251
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net	(234,853)	(193,165)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	17,405	(16,331)
Accounts payable	(6,888)	14,019
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(25,442)	31,836
Income taxes	27,042	12,960
Other	(645)	(328)
Net cash provided by operating activities	(9,099)	23,344
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(3,831)	(9,973)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	12
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,819)	(9,973)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term obligations		(26,750)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility	584,900
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility	(321,800)
Debt issue costs	(7,663)
Repurchase of common stock from principal shareholder	(300,000)
Equity transactions with employees, net of taxes paid	(14,321)	(247)
Tax benefit of stock options	18,589	434
Changes in intercompany note balances, net	52,525	29,981
Net cash used in financing activities	12,230	3,418
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(688)	16,789
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,844	111,545
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,156	128,334
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	231,300	189,313
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	64,685	59,289
Deferred income taxes	(5,834)	7,910
Other noncash gains and losses	2,719	4,323
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories	6,499	(5,275)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(13,025)	(16,741)
Accounts payable	(75,139)	(39,326)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(6,606)	5,680
Income taxes	(10,223)	(12,470)
Other	(569)	308
Net cash provided by operating activities	193,807	193,011
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(142,020)	(81,966)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment	107	367
Net cash used in investing activities	(141,913)	(81,599)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term obligations	(202)	(401)
Changes in intercompany note balances, net	(46,201)	(29,832)
Net cash used in financing activities	(46,403)	(30,233)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	5,491	81,179
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	102,627	364,404
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	108,118	445,583
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	3,553	3,852
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	66	35
Deferred income taxes	(724)	(4,236)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	990	703
Accounts payable	(200)	(615)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,830	1,294
Income taxes	2,487	6,181
Other	(71)	3
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,931	7,217
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(6)	(19)
Net cash used in investing activities	(6)	(19)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany note balances, net	(6,324)	(149)
Net cash used in financing activities	(6,324)	(149)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,601	7,049
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	21,655	21,497
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	23,256	28,546
ELIMINATIONS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	(234,853)	(193,165)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net	$ 234,853	$ 193,165