Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2017	Mar. 24, 2017	Jul. 30, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	BIG LOTS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000768835
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		44,786,322
Entity Public Float			$ 2,331,138,387
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 28, 2017