Segment reporting (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Nov. 02, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 03, 2018 USD ($)	May 04, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 02, 2018 USD ($)	Nov. 03, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 04, 2017 USD ($)	May 05, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 01, 2019 USD ($) segment	Feb. 02, 2018 USD ($) segment	Feb. 03, 2017 USD ($) segment
Net sales data for classes of similar products
Net sales	$ 6,649,809	$ 6,417,462	$ 6,443,309	$ 6,114,463	$ 6,129,431	$ 5,903,606	$ 5,828,305	$ 5,609,625	$ 25,625,043	$ 23,470,967	$ 21,986,598
Number of reportable segments
Number of reportable operating segments | segment									1	1	1
Consumables
Net sales data for classes of similar products
Net sales									$ 19,865,086	$ 18,054,785	$ 16,798,881
Seasonal
Net sales data for classes of similar products
Net sales									3,050,282	2,837,310	2,674,319
Home products
Net sales data for classes of similar products
Net sales									1,506,054	1,400,618	1,373,397
Apparel
Net sales data for classes of similar products
Net sales									$ 1,203,621	$ 1,178,254	$ 1,140,001