CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS" EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Cash dividends declared and paid per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.88	$ 0.70	$ 0.50

Per share dividends declared and paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

No definition available.

Name:	gps_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclaredAndPaid
Namespace Prefix:	gps_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration