Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	May. 02, 2015
Net sales	$ 5,771	$ 6,232
Cost of sales	(3,516)	(3,800)
Gross margin	2,255	2,432
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,966)	(2,023)
Settlement charges	13	0
Operating income (loss)	276	409
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(98)	(95)
Intercompany	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	178	314
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	(63)	(121)
Net income (loss)	115	193
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	116	193
Comprehensive income (loss)	107	201
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	108	201
Parent
Net sales	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0
Gross margin	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1)	(1)
Settlement charges	0
Operating income (loss)	(1)	(1)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	1	0
Intercompany	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	116	194
Income (loss) before income taxes	116	193
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	0	0
Net income (loss)	116	193
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	116	193
Comprehensive income (loss)	108	201
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	108	201
Subsidiary Issuer
Net sales	2,454	2,776
Cost of sales	(1,604)	(1,809)
Gross margin	850	967
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(882)	(980)
Settlement charges	3
Operating income (loss)	(35)	(13)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(99)	(95)
Intercompany	(58)	(58)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	10	60
Income (loss) before income taxes	(182)	(106)
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	61	37
Net income (loss)	(121)	(69)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(121)	(69)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(129)	(61)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(129)	(61)
Other Subsidiaries
Net sales	5,374	5,691
Cost of sales	(3,969)	(4,226)
Gross margin	1,405	1,465
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,083)	(1,042)
Settlement charges	10
Operating income (loss)	312	423
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0
Intercompany	58	58
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	370	481
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	(124)	(158)
Net income (loss)	246	323
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	247	323
Comprehensive income (loss)	241	327
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	242	327
Consolidating Adjustments
Net sales	(2,057)	(2,235)
Cost of sales	2,057	2,235
Gross margin	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0
Settlement charges	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0
Intercompany	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(126)	(254)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(126)	(254)
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	0	0
Net income (loss)	(126)	(254)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(126)	(254)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(113)	(266)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	$ (113)	$ (266)