Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2018	Apr. 27, 2018
Entity Registrant Name	FREDS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000724571
Document Type	10-K
Trading Symbol	FRED
Document Period End Date	Feb. 03, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-03
Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float	$ 0
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Common Class A [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		37,127,059
Nonvoting Common Class B [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0