Employee Retirement Plans (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2014	Feb. 01, 2013
Employee Retirement Plans
Contribution percentage for employees automatically enrolled in the 401k plan hired prior to November 1, 2012	1.00%low_AutoEnrollContributionPercentage
Maximum company match	4.25%low_MaximumCompanyMatch
Service requirement to receive company match	6 months
Employee retirement plan expense	$ 154	$ 160	$ 151

Automatic contribution percentage for employees meeting the eligibility requirement to participate in the defined contribution retirement plan maintained by the company that were automatically enrolled.

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	low_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum company match of contributions made by a plan participant who is enrolled in the defined contribution retirement plan maintained by the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	low_MaximumCompanyMatch
Namespace Prefix:	low_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum period that the individual is required to perform services in order to enroll in and be eligible to receive the company match on contributions made to the plan, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	low_ServiceRequirementPeriodOfTime
Namespace Prefix:	low_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration