Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Mar. 19, 2012
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	MICHAELS STORES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000740670
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 28, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float	$ 0
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		118,678,471
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY