Leases (Schedule Of Rent Expense) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Percentage rent	$ 14	$ 14	$ 14
Property incentives	(83)jwn_PropertyIncentives	(69)jwn_PropertyIncentives	(65)jwn_PropertyIncentives
Total rent expense	137us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	125us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense	105us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Store locations [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Minimum rent	170	145	124
Offices, warehouses and equipment [Member]
Operating Leased Assets [Line Items]
Minimum rent	$ 36	$ 35	$ 32

- Definition

The increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, are excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved.

+ References+ Details