Debt And Credit Facilities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 2 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
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Feb. 01, 2014
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Feb. 02, 2013
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Jan. 28, 2012
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Feb. 01, 2014
Series 2011-1 Class A Notes, 2.28%, due October 2016 [Member]
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Feb. 02, 2013
Series 2011-1 Class A Notes, 2.28%, due October 2016 [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Senior notes, 5.00%, due January 2044, net of unamortized discount [Member]
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Feb. 02, 2013
Senior notes, 5.00%, due January 2044, net of unamortized discount [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Senior notes, 7.00%, due January 2038, net of unamortized discount [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Senior notes, 7.00%, due January 2038, net of unamortized discount [Member]
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Feb. 02, 2013
Senior notes, 7.00%, due January 2038, net of unamortized discount [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Senior notes, 6.75%, due June 2014, net of unamortized discount [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Senior notes, 6.75%, due June 2014, net of unamortized discount [Member]
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Feb. 02, 2013
Senior notes, 6.75%, due June 2014, net of unamortized discount [Member]
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Jan. 28, 2012
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Unamortized fair value hedge [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
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Feb. 02, 2013
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
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Feb. 02, 2013
Series 2007-A Variable Funding Note facility [Member]
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Feb. 02, 2013
Nordstrom Federal Savings Bank variable funding facility [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Commercial Paper [Member]
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Feb. 02, 2013
Commercial Paper [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Line of Credit [Member]
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Nov. 30, 2013
Line of Credit [Member]
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Apr. 06, 2013
Terminated Credit Facility [Member]
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
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Apr. 06, 2013
Terminated Credit Facility [Member]
Series 2007-A Variable Funding Note facility [Member]
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Apr. 06, 2013
Terminated Credit Facility [Member]
Nordstrom Federal Savings Bank variable funding facility [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Short-Term Borrowings [Member]
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Feb. 01, 2014
Restricted [Member]
Nordstrom VISA credit card receivables [Member]
Series 2011-1 Class A Notes, 2.28%, due October 2016 [Member]
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Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Percentage of company interest in credit card receivables used as collateral to secure debt | 90.00% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total senior unsecured notes issued, gross | $ 665 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt instrument interest rate | 2.28% | 2.28% | 5.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 7.00% | 6.75% | 6.75% | 6.75% | |||||||||||||||||||
New senior unsecured notes maturity date, month and year | 2044-01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount of proceeds and senior unsecured notes retired | 400 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Retired or exchanged senior unsecured notes maturity date, month and year | 2038-01 | 2014-06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount of original senior unsecured notes exchanged (a non-cash activity) | 201 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount of new senior unsecured notes issued in exchange transaction | 265 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Excess outstanding principal of exchanged notes relating to lower interest rate and longer maturity recorded as a portion of the total discount | 64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total unsecured debt | 2,737 | 2,749 | 595 | 0 | 146 | 146 | 344 | 0 | 0 | 400 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
Total discount on the new senior unsecured notes | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Book value of office building used to secure mortgage payable | 67 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Accumulated adjustments to the associated debt, amortized as a reduction of interest expense | 72 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notional amount of interest rate swap agreements | 650 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total short-term borrowing capacity | 800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Borrowing capacity of terminated facility | 600 | 200 | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maturity date | October 2016 | October 2016 | January 2044 | January 2038 | January 2038 | June 2014 | June 2014 | 2018 | March 2018 | November 2018 | June 2016 | January 2014 | ||||||||||||||||
Borrowing capacity of current facility | 800 | 800 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Option to increase the maximum capacity of revolving credit facility | 200 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Maximum borrowing capacity | 1,000 | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt covenant leverage ratio | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding borrowings or issuances | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 2 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Debt instrument interest rate | one-month LIBOR plus 1.275% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basis spread on variable rate | 1.275% |