The number of nationwide classes for which certification is sought.

No definition available.

Name:	dg_NumberOfNationwideClasses
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of statewide sub-classes regarding consumer protection laws for which certification was sought.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dg_NumberOfStatewideSubclassesConsumerProtectionLaws
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of statewide sub-classes regarding claims of unjust enrichment for which certification was sought.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dg_NumberOfStatewideSubclassesUnjustEnrichment
Namespace Prefix:	dg_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118943654&loc=d3e12021-110248

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=dg_MotorOilMdlMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and contingencies - Legal proceedings (Details) - Pending litigation $ in Millions	Mar. 21, 2019 item	Aug. 02, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 20, 2018 item	Jun. 02, 2016 item
Legal proceedings
Expected possible loss \| $		$ 31.0
Motor Oil MDL
Legal proceedings
Number of nationwide classes			2	2
Number of statewide classes regarding unjust enrichment	16
Number of statewide classes regarding consumer protection laws	16