Borrowing Arrangements (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Jan. 29, 2012	Jan. 30, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Memphis-based distribution facilities obligation	$ 6,924,000	$ 8,338,000
Amount outstanding under credit facility	0	0
Amount of borrowings under credit facility during period	0	0
Unsecured Revolving Line Of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current borrowing capacity	300,000,000
Additional borrowing capacity	200,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity including additional borrowing capacity	500,000,000
Default interest rate increase	2.00%
Credit facility, maturity date	September 23, 2015
Interest rate description	We may elect interest rates calculated at (i) Bank of America's prime rate (or, if greater, the average rate on overnight federal funds plus one-half of one percent, or a rate based on LIBOR plus one percent) plus a margin based on our leverage ratio or(ii) LIBOR plus a margin based on our leverage ratio.	We may elect interest rates calculated at (i) Bank of America's prime rate (or, if greater, the average rate on overnight federal funds plus one-half of one percent, or a rate based on LIBOR plus one percent) plus a margin based on our leverage ratio or(ii) LIBOR plus a margin based on our leverage ratio.
Unsecured Revolving Line Of Credit [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional percentage over reference rate	1.00%
Unsecured Revolving Line Of Credit [Member] \| Federal Funds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional percentage over reference rate	0.50%
Standby Letters Of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount issued but undrawn under credit facility	9,420,000.0
Unsecured Letter Of Credit Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional percentage over reference rate	2.00%
Latest expiration date possible for future letters of credit	January 28, 2013
Letter of credit facilities, maturity date	August 31, 2012
Maximum borrowing capacity under letter of credit facilities including additional borrowing capacity	90,000,000.0
Outstanding letter of credit facilities	$ 23,544,000
Interest rate description	Interest on unreimbursed amounts under the letter of credit facilities accrues at the lender's prime rate (or if greater, the average rate on overnight federal funds plus one-half of one percent) plus 2.0%.
Unsecured Letter Of Credit Facilities [Member] \| Federal Funds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Additional percentage over reference rate	0.50%

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects when the credit facility terminates, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	us-types:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum amount borrowed under the credit facility at any time during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Reflects when the letter of credit facilities terminates, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the letter of credit facilities without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wsm_LetterOfCreditFacilitiesMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Expiration date for future letters of credit issued under the letter of credit facilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wsm_LineOfCreditExpirationDateForFutureCreditFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additional borrowing capacity that may be requested upon notice to the lenders.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount available to be drawn upon by standby letter of credit beneficiaries under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wsm_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountIssuedButUndrawn
Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Increase to our current interest rate in the event of a default under our credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's debt included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wsm_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountDebt
Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant