Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Aug. 04, 2017	Aug. 25, 2017
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	DOLLAR GENERAL CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000029534
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Aug. 04, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-02
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		273,259,005
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2