Basis of presentation and accounting policies - Impairment, Goodwill, Balance sheet detail (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020	Feb. 01, 2019	Feb. 02, 2018
Impairment of long-lived assets
Minimum period for which stores are open to be reviewed for impairment	3 years
Impairment charges included in SG&A expense	$ 3,600	$ 4,100	$ 7,800
Goodwill and other intangible assets
Impairment of intangible assets	0	0	$ 0
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Compensation and benefits	135,492	121,375
Self-insurance reserves	109,291	107,380
Taxes (other than taxes on income)	192,656	183,941
Other	271,717	205,709
Accrued expenses and other	709,156	618,405
Noncurrent Other liabilities
Deferred rent liability		70,100
Contingent rent liability	2,300	2,400
Self-insurance reserves	131,281	130,022
Deferred rent		70,139
Deferred gain on sale leaseback		40,303
Other	41,395	57,897
Noncurrent other liabilities	$ 172,676	$ 298,361
Maximum initial term for leases not recorded on the balance sheet	12 months