Guarantor subsidiaries (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Nov. 02, 2012	Feb. 03, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 142,580	$ 126,126	$ 118,580	$ 497,446
Merchandise inventories	2,330,436	2,009,206
Income taxes receivable	13,554
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	131,622	139,742
Total current assets	2,618,192	2,275,074
Net property and equipment	2,047,434	1,794,960
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,223,407	1,235,954
Other assets, net	46,055	43,943
Total assets	10,273,677	9,688,520
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	891	590
Accounts payable	1,199,727	1,064,087
Accrued expenses and other	392,439	397,075
Income taxes payable	997	44,428
Deferred income taxes	39,785	3,722
Total current liabilities	1,633,839	1,509,902
Long-term obligations	3,023,367	2,617,891
Deferred income taxes	655,910	656,996
Other liabilities	225,699	229,149
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	287,613	295,828
Additional paid-in capital	2,983,323	2,967,027
Retained earnings	1,468,534	1,416,918
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,608)	(5,191)
Total shareholders' equity	4,734,862	4,674,582
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	10,273,677	9,688,520
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,223	1,844	767	111,545
Income taxes receivable	26,908
Deferred income taxes	1,592	10,078
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	701,969	551,457
Total current assets	731,692	563,379
Net property and equipment	123,523	113,661
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,199,700	1,199,200
Other assets, net	7,529,127	6,575,574
Total assets	13,922,631	12,790,403
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	588
Accounts payable	5,356,882	4,654,237
Accrued expenses and other	52,287	79,010
Income taxes payable		12,972
Total current liabilities	5,409,757	4,746,219
Long-term obligations	3,301,168	2,879,475
Deferred income taxes	433,413	435,791
Other liabilities	43,431	54,336
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	287,613	295,828
Additional paid-in capital	2,983,323	2,967,027
Retained earnings	1,468,534	1,416,918
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(4,608)	(5,191)
Total shareholders' equity	4,734,862	4,674,582
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	13,922,631	12,790,403
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	116,107	102,627	94,025	364,404
Merchandise inventories	2,330,436	2,009,206
Income taxes receivable	6,847
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,379,125	4,685,263
Total current assets	7,832,515	6,797,096
Net property and equipment	1,923,806	1,681,072
Other intangible assets, net	23,707	36,754
Other assets, net	14,573	13,260
Total assets	9,794,601	8,528,182
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	303	590
Accounts payable	1,737,980	1,451,277
Accrued expenses and other	285,731	264,575
Income taxes payable		5,013
Deferred income taxes	50,003	35,529
Total current liabilities	2,074,017	1,756,984
Long-term obligations	3,604,106	3,340,075
Deferred income taxes	272,085	270,736
Other liabilities	40,239	33,156
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	23,855	23,855
Additional paid-in capital	431,253	431,253
Retained earnings	3,349,046	2,672,123
Total shareholders' equity	3,804,154	3,127,231
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,794,601	8,528,182
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	25,250	21,655	23,788	21,497
Deferred income taxes	8,626	21,729
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	10,035	5,768
Total current assets	43,911	49,152
Net property and equipment	105	227
Deferred income taxes	49,588	49,531
Other assets, net	344,715	323,736
Total assets	438,319	422,646
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	50,534	52,362
Accrued expenses and other	68,259	62,447
Income taxes payable	21,198	26,443
Total current liabilities	139,991	141,252
Other liabilities	142,029	141,657
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	100	100
Additional paid-in capital	19,900	19,900
Retained earnings	136,299	119,737
Total shareholders' equity	156,299	139,737
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	438,319	422,646
ELIMINATIONS
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable	(20,201)
Deferred income taxes	(10,218)	(31,807)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(5,959,507)	(5,102,746)
Total current assets	(5,989,926)	(5,134,553)
Deferred income taxes	(49,588)	(49,531)
Other assets, net	(7,842,360)	(6,868,627)
Total assets	(13,881,874)	(12,052,711)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(5,945,669)	(5,093,789)
Accrued expenses and other	(13,838)	(8,957)
Income taxes payable	(20,201)
Deferred income taxes	(10,218)	(31,807)
Total current liabilities	(5,989,926)	(5,134,553)
Long-term obligations	(3,881,907)	(3,601,659)
Deferred income taxes	(49,588)	(49,531)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(23,955)	(23,955)
Additional paid-in capital	(451,153)	(451,153)
Retained earnings	(3,485,345)	(2,791,860)
Total shareholders' equity	(3,960,453)	(3,266,968)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (13,881,874)	$ (12,052,711)