Income taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2017	Jan. 29, 2016	Jan. 30, 2015
Current:
Federal	$ 613,009	$ 590,120	$ 543,089
Foreign	135	1,678	1,245
State	88,990	84,021	81,816
Total current income taxes	702,134	675,819	626,150
Deferred:
Federal	11,053	6,410	(7,697)
State	1,308	5,715	(2,937)
Total deferred income taxes	12,361	12,125	(10,634)
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	714,495	687,944	615,516
Reconciliation between actual income taxes and amounts computed by applying federal statutory rate
U.S. federal statutory rate on earnings before income taxes	687,969	648,558	588,303
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	60,168	59,700	49,819
Jobs credits, net of federal income taxes	(18,952)	(21,366)	(18,961)
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowances	(1,474)	(1,371)	1,453
Stock-based compensation programs	(9,915)
Decrease in income tax reserves	(2,161)	(2,037)	(6,449)
Other, net	(1,140)	4,460	1,351
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	$ 714,495	$ 687,944	$ 615,516
Reconciliation between actual income taxes rate and federal statutory rate
U.S. federal statutory rate on earnings before income taxes (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (as a percent)	3.10%	3.20%	3.00%
Jobs credits, net of federal income taxes (as a percent)	(1.00%)	(1.20%)	(1.10%)
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowances (as a percent)	(0.10%)	(0.10%)	0.10%
Stock-based compensation programs (as a percent)	(0.50%)
Decrease in income tax reserves (as a percent)	(0.10%)	(0.10%)	(0.40%)
Other, net (as a percent)	(0.10%)	0.30%
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes (as a percent)	36.30%	37.10%	36.60%
Deferred tax assets:
Deferred compensation expense	$ 7,626	$ 8,200
Accrued expenses	6,958	8,139
Accrued rent	24,077	20,793
Accrued insurance	72,990	72,676
Accrued incentive compensation	15,170	19,902
Share based compensation	18,908	17,988
Interest rate hedges	3,175	3,702
Tax benefit of income tax and interest reserves related to uncertain tax positions	746	1,371
Deferred gain on sale- leaseback	20,872	22,637
Other	12,591	9,440
State tax credit carry forwards, net of federal tax	8,765	10,711
Total deferred tax assets, gross	191,878	195,559
Less valuation allowances		(1,474)
Total deferred tax assets	191,878	194,085
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment	(334,430)	(320,619)
Inventories	(65,844)	(72,456)
Trademarks	(434,045)	(433,548)
Other	(10,400)	(7,417)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(844,719)	(834,040)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(652,841)	(639,955)
State tax credit carryforwards that will expire beginning in 2022 through 2026	13,500
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance for state tax credit carryforwards	(1,500)	(1,400)	$ 1,500
Reserve for uncertain tax positions that would impact effective tax rate if recognized	3,100
Interest accrued related to uncertain tax benefits	800	900
Potential penalties accrued related to uncertain tax benefits	900	800
Reserves for uncertain tax benefits included in noncurrent Other liabilities	4,800	8,700
Reserve for uncertain tax positions for which a reduction is reasonably possible in the next twelve months	2,200
Income tax amounts associated with uncertain tax positions
Income tax expense (benefit)	(3,795)	(2,379)	(9,497)
Income tax related interest expense (benefit)	(31)	(23)	(1,445)
Income tax related penalty expense (benefit)	50	373	51
Reconciliation of the uncertain income tax positions
Beginning Balance	6,964	9,343	19,583
Increases - tax positions taken in the current year	41	214	198
Increases - tax positions taken in prior years	52	17	62
Decreases - tax positions taken in prior years	(1,435)	(106)	(8,636)
Statute expirations	(2,453)	(2,504)	(1,121)
Settlements	(52)		(743)
Ending Balance	$ 3,117	$ 6,964	$ 9,343