Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Adjustments to reserve for sales returns	$ 8m_AdjustmentsToReserveForSalesReturns	$ 4m_AdjustmentsToReserveForSalesReturns	$ 5m_AdjustmentsToReserveForSalesReturns
Workers compensation and general liability reserves covered by deposits and receivables	$ 111	$ 107

Workers compensation and general liability reserves covered by deposits and receivables

No definition available.

Name:	m_WorkersCompensationAndGeneralLiabilityReservesCoveredByDepositsAndReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	m_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant