Guarantor subsidiaries (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011	Nov. 02, 2012	Oct. 28, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 207,685	$ 171,164	$ 635,240	$ 474,175
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			222,398	204,771
Deferred income taxes			24,221	23,977
Tax benefit of stock options			(85,335)	(16,101)
Loss on debt retirement, net			30,620	60,303
Noncash share-based compensation			15,357	10,969
Other noncash gains and losses			9,548	31,656
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories			(326,076)	(350,932)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			12,399	(30,899)
Accounts payable			130,733	164,336
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			(4,334)	89,993
Income taxes			28,350	(57,575)
Other			(2,235)	(174)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			690,886	604,499
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(453,626)	(363,099)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment			1,144	729
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(452,482)	(362,370)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term obligations			500,000
Repayments of long-term obligations			(478,026)	(911,708)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility			1,703,400	649,100
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility			(1,349,800)	(361,300)
Debt issue costs			(15,278)
Repurchase of common stock			(596,442)
Equity transactions with employees, net of taxes paid			(71,139)	(13,188)
Tax benefit of stock options			85,335	16,101
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(221,950)	(620,995)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			16,454	(378,866)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			126,126	497,446
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	142,580	118,580	142,580	118,580
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	207,685	171,164	635,240	474,175
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			22,942	24,008
Deferred income taxes			(4,648)	1,527
Tax benefit of stock options			(85,335)	(16,101)
Loss on debt retirement, net			30,620	60,303
Noncash share-based compensation			15,357	10,969
Other noncash gains and losses			(593)	562
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net	(220,856)	(193,976)	(693,485)	(601,596)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			24,897	(17,129)
Accounts payable			15,385	21,248
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			(39,256)	32,950
Income taxes			45,455	(48,077)
Other			(501)	(2)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			(33,922)	(57,163)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(19,949)	(20,956)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment			65	16
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(19,884)	(20,940)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of long-term obligations			500,000
Repayments of long-term obligations			(477,521)	(910,677)
Borrowings under revolving credit facility			1,703,400	649,100
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility			(1,349,800)	(361,300)
Debt issue costs			(15,278)
Repurchase of common stock			(596,442)
Equity transactions with employees, net of taxes paid			(71,139)	(13,188)
Tax benefit of stock options			85,335	16,101
Changes in intercompany note balances, net			274,630	587,289
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			53,185	(32,675)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(621)	(110,778)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			1,844	111,545
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	1,223	767	1,223	767
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	214,585	188,759	676,923	588,002
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			199,317	180,666
Deferred income taxes			15,823	24,573
Other noncash gains and losses			10,141	31,094
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories			(326,076)	(350,932)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(14,774)	(13,125)
Accounts payable			117,007	143,080
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			28,738	50,916
Income taxes			(11,860)	(16,644)
Other			(1,663)	(100)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			693,576	637,530
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(433,660)	(342,078)
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment			1,079	713
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(432,581)	(341,365)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term obligations			(505)	(1,031)
Changes in intercompany note balances, net			(247,010)	(565,513)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(247,515)	(566,544)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			13,480	(270,379)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			102,627	364,404
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	116,107	94,025	116,107	94,025
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	6,271	5,217	16,562	13,594
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			139	97
Deferred income taxes			13,046	(2,123)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			2,276	(645)
Accounts payable			(1,659)	8
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			6,184	6,127
Income taxes			(5,245)	7,146
Other			(71)	(72)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities			31,232	24,132
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(17)	(65)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			(17)	(65)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Changes in intercompany note balances, net			(27,620)	(21,776)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(27,620)	(21,776)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			3,595	2,291
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			21,655	21,497
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	25,250	23,788	25,250	23,788
ELIMINATIONS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	(220,856)	(193,976)	(693,485)	(601,596)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in subsidiaries' earnings, net	$ 220,856	$ 193,976	$ 693,485	$ 601,596