Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Feb. 24, 2012	Jul. 30, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 28, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	M
Entity Registrant Name	Macy's, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000794367
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		416,581,507
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 12,339,100,000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No