Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (Policy)	3 Months Ended
Apr. 29, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business Bath & Body Works, Inc. (the "Company") is a global omnichannel retailer focused on personal care and home fragrance. The Company sells merchandise through its retail stores in the United States of America ("U.S.") and Canada, and through its websites and other channels, under the Bath & Body Works, White Barn and other brand names. The Company's international business is conducted through franchise, license and wholesale partners. The Company operates as and reports a single segment.
Fiscal Year	Fiscal Year The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31. As used herein, “first quarter of 2023” and “first quarter of 2022” refer to the thirteen-week periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively.
Basis of Consolidation	Basis of Consolidation The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company accounts for investments in unconsolidated entities where it exercises significant influence, but does not have control, using the equity method.
Interim Financial Statements	Interim Financial Statements The Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022 are unaudited and are presented pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto contained in the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods.
Seasonality of Business	Seasonality of Business The Company's operations are seasonal in nature and consist of two principal selling seasons: Spring (the first and second quarters) and Fall (the third and fourth quarters). Historically, the Company's sales are higher during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year due to seasonal and holiday-related sales patterns. Due to the seasonal variations in the retail industry, the results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year.
Derivative Financial Instruments	Derivative Financial Instruments The Company's Canadian dollar denominated earnings are subject to exchange rate risk as substantially all the Company's merchandise sold in Canada is sourced through U.S. dollar transactions. The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges to mitigate this foreign currency exposure. Amounts are reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income upon sale of the hedged merchandise to the customer. These gains and losses are recognized in Costs of Goods Sold, Buying and Occupancy in the Consolidated Statements of Income. All designated cash flow hedges are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The fair value of designated cash flow hedges is not significant for any period presented. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
Concentration of Credit Risk	Concentration of Credit Risk The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and derivative contracts with various major financial institutions. The Company monitors the relative credit standing of financial institutions with whom the Company transacts and limits the amount of credit exposure with any one entity. The Company’s investment portfolio is primarily composed of U.S. government obligations, U.S. Treasury and AAA-rated money market funds, commercial paper and bank deposits. The Company also periodically reviews the relative credit standing of franchise, license and wholesale partners and other entities to which the Company grants credit terms in the normal course of business. The Company determines the required allowance for expected credit losses using information such as customer credit history and financial condition. Amounts are recorded to the allowance when it is determined that expected credit losses may occur.
Equity Method Investments	Easton Investments The Company has land and other investments in Easton, a planned community in Columbus, Ohio, that integrates office, hotel, retail, residential and recreational space. These investments, totaling $126 million as of April 29, 2023, $124 million as of January 28, 2023 and $126 million as of April 30, 2022, are recorded in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Included in the Company’s Easton investments are equity interests in Easton Town Center, LLC (“ETC”) and Easton Gateway, LLC (“EG”), entities that own and develop commercial entertainment and shopping centers. The Company’s investments in ETC and EG are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The Company has majority financial interests in ETC and EG, but another unaffiliated member manages them, and certain significant decisions regarding ETC and EG require the consent of unaffiliated members in addition to the Company. Under the equity method of accounting, the Company recognizes its share of the investee's net income or loss. Losses are only recognized to the extent the Company has positive carrying value related to the investee. Carrying values are only reduced below zero if the Company has an obligation to provide funding to the investee. The Company’s share of net income or loss of all unconsolidated entities is included in Other Income (Loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company’s equity method investments are required to be reviewed for impairment when it is determined there may be an other-than-temporary loss in value.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements	Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, as well as the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results may differ from those estimates, and the Company revises its estimates and assumptions as new information becomes available.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements The Company did not adopt any new accounting standards in the first quarter of 2023 that had a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. In addition, as of June 2, 2023, there were no new accounting standards that the Company has not yet adopted that are expected to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
Inventory	Inventories are principally valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, on an average cost basis.

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (Policy)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 29, 2023

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Bath & Body Works, Inc. (the "Company") is a global omnichannel retailer focused on personal care and home fragrance. The Company sells merchandise through its retail stores in the United States of America ("U.S.") and Canada, and through its websites and other channels, under the Bath & Body Works, White Barn and other brand names. The Company's international business is conducted through franchise, license and wholesale partners. The Company operates as and reports a single segment.

Fiscal Year

The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31. As used herein, “first quarter of 2023” and “first quarter of 2022” refer to the thirteen-week periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022, respectively.

Basis of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company accounts for investments in unconsolidated entities where it exercises significant influence, but does not have control, using the equity method.

Interim Financial Statements

The Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the periods ended April 29, 2023 and April 30, 2022 are unaudited and are presented pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. These Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto contained in the Company’s 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In the opinion of management, the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods.

Seasonality of Business

The Company's operations are seasonal in nature and consist of two principal selling seasons: Spring (the first and second quarters) and Fall (the third and fourth quarters). Historically, the Company's sales are higher during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year due to seasonal and holiday-related sales patterns. Due to the seasonal variations in the retail industry, the results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full fiscal year.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company's Canadian dollar denominated earnings are subject to exchange rate risk as substantially all the Company's merchandise sold in Canada is sourced through U.S. dollar transactions. The Company uses foreign currency forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges to mitigate this foreign currency exposure. Amounts are reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income upon sale of the hedged merchandise to the customer. These gains and losses are recognized in Costs of Goods Sold, Buying and Occupancy in the Consolidated Statements of Income. All designated cash flow hedges are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. The fair value of designated cash flow hedges is not significant for any period presented. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents and derivative contracts with various major financial institutions. The Company monitors the relative credit standing of financial institutions with whom the Company transacts and limits the amount of credit exposure with any one entity. The Company’s investment portfolio is primarily composed of U.S. government obligations, U.S. Treasury and AAA-rated money market funds, commercial paper and bank deposits.

The Company also periodically reviews the relative credit standing of franchise, license and wholesale partners and other entities to which the Company grants credit terms in the normal course of business. The Company determines the required allowance for expected credit losses using information such as customer credit history and financial condition. Amounts are recorded to the allowance when it is determined that expected credit losses may occur.

Equity Method Investments

Easton Investments

The Company has land and other investments in Easton, a planned community in Columbus, Ohio, that integrates office, hotel, retail, residential and recreational space. These investments, totaling $126 million as of April 29, 2023, $124 million as of January 28, 2023 and $126 million as of April 30, 2022, are recorded in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Included in the Company’s Easton investments are equity interests in Easton Town Center, LLC (“ETC”) and Easton Gateway, LLC (“EG”), entities that own and develop commercial entertainment and shopping centers. The Company’s investments in ETC and EG are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The Company has majority financial interests in ETC and EG, but another unaffiliated member manages them, and certain significant decisions regarding ETC and EG require the consent of unaffiliated members in addition to the Company.

Under the equity method of accounting, the Company recognizes its share of the investee's net income or loss. Losses are only recognized to the extent the Company has positive carrying value related to the investee. Carrying values are only reduced below zero if the Company has an obligation to provide funding to the investee. The Company’s share of net income or loss of all unconsolidated entities is included in Other Income (Loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company’s equity method investments are required to be reviewed for impairment when it is determined there may be an other-than-temporary loss in value.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period, as well as the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. Actual results may differ from those estimates, and the Company revises its estimates and assumptions as new information becomes available.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The Company did not adopt any new accounting standards in the first quarter of 2023 that had a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. In addition, as of June 2, 2023, there were no new accounting standards that the Company has not yet adopted that are expected to have a material impact on its consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Inventory

Inventories are principally valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, on an average cost basis.