Guarantor Subsidiaries (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 1,095,632	$ 1,004,088
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(243,740)	(245,802)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	(39,065)
Cash used in investing activities	(243,740)	(284,867)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	214,669	175,035
Payments on borrowings, including payment of deferred financing fees	(789,931)	(151,068)
Purchase of treasury stock, net	(512,496)	(285,713)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements	1,023	0
Cash dividends paid	(209,604)	(194,856)
Purchase of Noncontrolling Interest	(3,591)	(360,595)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans	29,398	(316,727)
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,266,941)	(773,329)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	14,156	8,010
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(400,893)	(46,098)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,461,257	1,415,819
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,060,364	1,369,721
Staples, Inc. (Parent Co.)
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,077,346	595,676
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(29,772)	(35,318)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		0
Cash used in investing activities	(29,772)	(35,318)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	75,720	58,827
Payments on borrowings, including payment of deferred financing fees	(544,385)	(82,700)
Purchase of treasury stock, net	(512,496)	(285,713)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements	579
Cash dividends paid	(209,604)	(194,856)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans	32,989	43,868
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,157,197)	(460,574)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(109,623)	99,784
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	406,821	581,095
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	297,198	680,879
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	116,515	124,154
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(122,964)	(134,207)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		0
Cash used in investing activities	(122,964)	(134,207)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	12,378	0
Payments on borrowings, including payment of deferred financing fees	0	0
Purchase of treasury stock, net	0	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements	385
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans	0	0
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	12,763	0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	6,314	(10,053)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	38,298	54,324
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	44,612	44,271
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Net cash provided by operating activities	(98,229)	284,258
Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(91,004)	(76,277)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(39,065)
Cash used in investing activities	(91,004)	(115,342)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from borrowings	126,571	116,208
Payments on borrowings, including payment of deferred financing fees	(245,546)	(68,368)
Purchase of treasury stock, net	0	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements	59
Cash dividends paid	0	0
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the sale of stock under employee stock purchase plans	(3,591)	(360,595)
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(122,507)	(312,755)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	14,156	8,010
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(297,584)	(135,829)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	1,016,138	780,400
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 718,554	$ 644,571