Nature Of Operations And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012 states	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of states in which company operates	30
Development incentive deferred rent credit	$ 556	$ 553
Number of consecutive minimum payments allow, Non-accrual accounts return to accrual status	three
Advertising expense, net of vendor allowances	128	114	85
Shipping and handling cost, excluding inbound freight	178	133	103
Period at which unused gift card balance redemptions are deemed remote, years	five years
Gift card breakage income	9	9	8
Gift card breakage rate	3.00%
Outstanding gift card liability	209	188
Amount recognized in uncertain tax positions	cumulatively greater than 50%
Checks not yet presented for payment drawn in excess of bank deposit balances	81	111
Period in which delinquent accounts receivable are determined uncollectable, days	150 days
Period until which finance charges are recognized on delinquent accounts, days	120 days
Goodwill	175	53	53
Nordstrom [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	117
Nordstrom Rack [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	104
Jeffrey [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	2
Clearance Store [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	1
treasure&bond [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	1
Nordstrom.com And Jeffrey [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0
Goodwill	53
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | HauteLook [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment	25
Goodwill	121
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Accumulated adjustments to the associated debt, amortized as a reduction of interest expense	$ 72