Guarantor subsidiaries (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 03, 2012	Feb. 03, 2012	Jul. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 134,157	$ 126,126	$ 113,050	$ 497,446
Merchandise inventories	2,147,837	2,009,206
Income taxes receivable	89,473
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	142,977	139,742
Total current assets	2,514,444	2,275,074
Net property and equipment	1,972,205	1,794,960
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,227,499	1,235,954
Other assets, net	50,737	43,943
Total assets	10,103,474	9,688,520
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	344	590
Accounts payable	1,143,857	1,064,087
Accrued expenses and other	366,271	397,075
Income taxes payable	665	44,428
Deferred income taxes	15,546	3,722
Total current liabilities	1,526,683	1,509,902
Long-term obligations	2,887,251	2,617,891
Deferred income taxes	651,521	656,996
Other liabilities	222,008	229,149
Redeemable common stock	5,601	6,087
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	291,983	295,828
Additional paid-in capital	2,973,160	2,960,940
Retained earnings	1,550,438	1,416,918
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,171)	(5,191)
Total shareholders' equity	4,810,410	4,668,495
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	10,103,474	9,688,520
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,443	1,844	55,434	111,545
Income taxes receivable	109,111
Deferred income taxes	1,008	10,078
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	619,332	551,457
Total current assets	732,894	563,379
Net property and equipment	117,075	113,661
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,199,700	1,199,200
Other assets, net	7,218,130	6,575,574
Total assets	13,606,388	12,790,403
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	5,106,274	4,654,237
Accrued expenses and other	36,861	79,010
Income taxes payable		12,972
Total current liabilities	5,143,135	4,746,219
Long-term obligations	3,164,978	2,879,475
Deferred income taxes	441,965	435,791
Other liabilities	40,299	54,336
Redeemable common stock	5,601	6,087
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	291,983	295,828
Additional paid-in capital	2,973,160	2,960,940
Retained earnings	1,550,438	1,416,918
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,171)	(5,191)
Total shareholders' equity	4,810,410	4,668,495
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	13,606,388	12,790,403
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	109,458	102,627	36,613	364,404
Merchandise inventories	2,147,837	2,009,206
Income taxes receivable	12,420
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,156,562	4,685,263
Total current assets	7,426,277	6,797,096
Net property and equipment	1,854,990	1,681,072
Other intangible assets, net	27,799	36,754
Other assets, net	15,103	13,260
Total assets	9,324,169	8,528,182
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	344	590
Accounts payable	1,615,197	1,451,277
Accrued expenses and other	273,982	264,575
Income taxes payable		5,013
Deferred income taxes	39,065	35,529
Total current liabilities	1,928,588	1,756,984
Long-term obligations	3,508,553	3,340,075
Deferred income taxes	259,930	270,736
Other liabilities	37,529	33,156
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	23,855	23,855
Additional paid-in capital	431,253	431,253
Retained earnings	3,134,461	2,672,123
Total shareholders' equity	3,589,569	3,127,231
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,324,169	8,528,182
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	21,256	21,655	21,003	21,497
Deferred income taxes	22,511	21,729
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,711	5,768
Total current assets	49,478	49,152
Net property and equipment	140	227
Deferred income taxes	50,374	49,531
Other assets, net	343,380	323,736
Total assets	443,372	422,646
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	51,983	52,362
Accrued expenses and other	64,458	62,447
Income taxes payable	32,723	26,443
Total current liabilities	149,164	141,252
Other liabilities	144,180	141,657
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	100	100
Additional paid-in capital	19,900	19,900
Retained earnings	130,028	119,737
Total shareholders' equity	150,028	139,737
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	443,372	422,646
ELIMINATIONS
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	(32,058)
Deferred income taxes	(23,519)	(31,807)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(5,638,628)	(5,102,746)
Total current assets	(5,694,205)	(5,134,553)
Deferred income taxes	(50,374)	(49,531)
Other assets, net	(7,525,876)	(6,868,627)
Total assets	(13,270,455)	(12,052,711)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(5,629,597)	(5,093,789)
Accrued expenses and other	(9,030)	(8,957)
Income taxes payable	(32,058)
Deferred income taxes	(23,519)	(31,807)
Total current liabilities	(5,694,204)	(5,134,553)
Long-term obligations	(3,786,280)	(3,601,659)
Deferred income taxes	(50,374)	(49,531)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(23,955)	(23,955)
Additional paid-in capital	(451,153)	(451,153)
Retained earnings	(3,264,489)	(2,791,860)
Total shareholders' equity	(3,739,597)	(3,266,968)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (13,270,455)	$ (12,052,711)