Cover Page - shares	3 Months Ended
	May 03, 2020	May 31, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	May 03, 2020
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0000719955
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-29
Entity Registrant Name	WILLIAMS SONOMA INC
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	WSM
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		77,758,981
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity File Number	001-14077
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-2203880
Entity Address, Address Line One	3250 Van Ness Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94109
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
City Area Code	415
Local Phone Number	421-7900
Security Exchange Name	NYSE