Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Nov. 01, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Nov. 01, 2014
Net sales	$ 5,874	$ 6,195	$ 18,210	$ 18,741
Cost of sales	(3,537)	(3,766)	(10,947)	(11,274)
Gross margin	2,337	2,429	7,263	7,467
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,968)	(2,007)	(6,049)	(6,031)
Asset impairments	(111)	0	(111)	0
Operating income (loss)	258	422	1,103	1,436
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(80)	(96)	(268)	(296)
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	178	326	835	1,140
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	(61)	(109)	(308)	(407)
Net income (loss)	117	217	527	733
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	0	1	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	118	217	528	733
Comprehensive income (loss)	124	220	549	744
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	0	1	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	125	220	550	744
Parent
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0	0	0
Gross margin	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	(1)	(2)
Asset impairments	0		0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	(1)	(2)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0	0	0
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	117	217	528	735
Income (loss) before income taxes	117	217	527	733
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	1	0	1	0
Net income (loss)	118	217	528	733
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	118	217	528	733
Comprehensive income (loss)	125	220	550	744
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	125	220	550	744
Subsidiary Issuer
Net sales	2,654	2,920	8,191	8,799
Cost of sales	(1,761)	(1,916)	(5,258)	(5,580)
Gross margin	893	1,004	2,933	3,219
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(957)	(1,069)	(2,962)	(3,122)
Asset impairments	(102)		(102)
Operating income (loss)	(166)	(65)	(131)	97
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(79)	(96)	(267)	(296)
Intercompany	(58)	(56)	(173)	(172)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(9)	21	137	200
Income (loss) before income taxes	(312)	(196)	(434)	(171)
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	84	60	163	102
Net income (loss)	(228)	(136)	(271)	(69)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(228)	(136)	(271)	(69)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(221)	(133)	(249)	(58)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(221)	(133)	(249)	(58)
Other Subsidiaries
Net sales	6,366	6,365	17,106	16,816
Cost of sales	(4,922)	(4,940)	(12,776)	(12,568)
Gross margin	1,444	1,425	4,330	4,248
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,011)	(938)	(3,086)	(2,907)
Asset impairments	(9)		(9)
Operating income (loss)	424	487	1,235	1,341
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(1)	0	(1)	0
Intercompany	58	56	173	172
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	481	543	1,407	1,513
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	(146)	(169)	(472)	(509)
Net income (loss)	335	374	935	1,004
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	0	1	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	336	374	936	1,004
Comprehensive income (loss)	339	377	948	1,011
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	0	1	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	340	377	949	1,011
Consolidating Adjustments
Net sales	(3,146)	(3,090)	(7,087)	(6,874)
Cost of sales	3,146	3,090	7,087	6,874
Gross margin	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Asset impairments	0		0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0	0	0
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(108)	(238)	(665)	(935)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(108)	(238)	(665)	(935)
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(108)	(238)	(665)	(935)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(108)	(238)	(665)	(935)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(119)	(244)	(700)	(953)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	$ (119)	$ (244)	$ (700)	$ (953)