Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2015	Sep. 04, 2015
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	FREDS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000724571
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Aug. 01, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-30
Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		37,265,886
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2