Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	Jun. 03, 2016
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	FREDS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000724571
Document Type	10-Q
Trading Symbol	FRED
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
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		37,289,261
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016