Income taxes - (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2023	Jan. 28, 2022	Jan. 29, 2021
Current:
Federal	$ 400,752	$ 472,913	$ 614,207
Foreign	279	384	127
State	63,562	76,261	100,002
Total current income taxes	464,593	549,558	714,336
Deferred:
Federal	195,529	93,114	32,433
Foreign	(24)	(38)	(104)
State	40,527	21,283	2,665
Total deferred income taxes	236,032	114,359	34,994
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	700,625	663,917	749,330
Reconciliation between actual income taxes and amounts computed by applying federal statutory rate
U.S. federal statutory rate on earnings before income taxes	654,489	643,262	714,920
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit	82,134	77,086	81,117
Jobs credits, net of federal income taxes	(37,639)	(39,936)	(27,479)
Other, net	1,641	(16,495)	(19,228)
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes	$ 700,625	$ 663,917	$ 749,330
Reconciliation between actual income taxes rate and federal statutory rate
U.S. federal statutory rate on earnings before income taxes (as a percent)	21.00%	21.00%	21.00%
State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit (as a percent)	2.60%	2.50%	2.40%
Jobs credits, net of federal income taxes (as a percent)	(1.20%)	(1.30%)	(0.80%)
Other, net (as a percent)	0.10%	(0.50%)	(0.60%)
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes (as a percent)	22.50%	21.70%	22.00%
Increase in tax rate	0.80%
Decrease in tax rate		0.30%
Deferred tax assets:
Deferred compensation expense	$ 12,029	$ 11,563
Accrued expenses	7,274	26,984
Accrued rent	473	552
Lease liabilities	2,760,588	2,617,954
Accrued insurance	7,514	6,971
Accrued incentive compensation	26,534	30,716
Share based compensation	15,309	16,605
Interest rate hedges	31	383
Tax benefit of income tax and interest reserves related to uncertain tax positions	77	79
State and foreign tax net operating loss carry forward, net of federal tax	4,279	903
State tax credit carry forwards, net of federal tax	7,812	6,973
Other	22,756	16,715
Total deferred tax assets, gross	2,864,676	2,736,398
Less valuation allowances, net of federal income taxes	(9,001)	(5,235)
Total deferred tax assets	2,855,675	2,731,163
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment	(684,468)	(572,286)
Lease assets	(2,728,507)	(2,588,709)
Inventories	(176,798)	(68,780)
Trademarks	(307,734)	(310,011)
Prepaid insurance	(17,870)	(15,278)
Other	(1,204)	(1,353)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(3,916,581)	(3,556,417)
Net deferred tax liabilities	(1,060,906)	(825,254)
State tax credit carryforwards that will expire beginning in 2023 through 2027	7,800
Apportioned state net operating loss carryforwards that will expire beginning in 2029 through 2041	13,500
Increase in income tax amount	3,800	1,100
Reserve for uncertain tax positions that would impact effective tax rate if recognized	8,000	6,200
Interest accrued related to uncertain tax benefits	300	200
Potential penalties accrued related to uncertain tax benefits	0	0
Reserves for uncertain tax benefits included in noncurrent Other liabilities	8,300	6,400
Reserve for uncertain tax positions for which a reduction is reasonably possible in the next twelve months	2,400
Income tax amounts associated with uncertain tax positions
Income tax expense (benefit)	1,797	(1,311)	$ 2,411
Income tax related interest expense (benefit)	28	(281)	104
Reconciliation of the uncertain income tax positions
Beginning Balance	6,191	7,502	5,090
Increases - tax positions taken in prior years	3,499	2,803	3,857
Decreases - tax positions taken in prior years			(1,445)
Statute expirations	(1,239)	(1,456)
Settlements	(463)	(2,658)
Ending Balance	$ 7,988	$ 6,191	$ 7,502