Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 29, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015
Net sales	$ 5,626	$ 5,874	$ 17,263	$ 18,210
Cost of sales	(3,386)	(3,537)	(10,370)	(10,947)
Gross margin	2,240	2,337	6,893	7,263
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(2,071)	(1,968)	(6,063)	(6,049)
Impairments and other costs	0	(111)	(249)	(111)
Settlement charges	(62)	0	(81)	0
Operating Income (Loss)	107	258	500	1,103
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(81)	(80)	(276)	(268)
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	26	178	224	835
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(11)	(61)	(85)	(308)
Net income (loss)	15	117	139	527
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2	1	5	1
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	17	118	144	528
Comprehensive income (loss)	60	124	159	549
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2	1	5	1
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	62	125	164	550
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	(1)	0	(2)	(1)
Impairments and other costs		0	0	0
Settlement charges	0		0
Operating Income (Loss)	(1)	0	(2)	(1)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	1	0	2	0
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	17	117	144	528
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	17	117	144	527
Federal, state and local income tax expense	0	1	0	1
Net income (loss)	17	118	144	528
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	17	118	144	528
Comprehensive income (loss)	62	125	164	550
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	62	125	164	550
Subsidiary Issuer
Net sales	2,376	2,654	7,324	8,191
Cost of sales	(1,577)	(1,761)	(4,704)	(5,258)
Gross margin	799	893	2,620	2,933
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(909)	(957)	(2,732)	(2,962)
Impairments and other costs		(102)	(184)	(102)
Settlement charges	(24)		(29)
Operating Income (Loss)	(134)	(166)	(325)	(131)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(82)	(79)	(278)	(267)
Intercompany	(51)	(58)	(166)	(173)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(101)	(9)	(69)	137
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(368)	(312)	(838)	(434)
Federal, state and local income tax expense	68	84	243	163
Net income (loss)	(300)	(228)	(595)	(271)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(300)	(228)	(595)	(271)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(255)	(221)	(575)	(249)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(255)	(221)	(575)	(249)
Other Subsidiaries
Net sales	6,183	6,366	16,546	17,106
Cost of sales	(4,742)	(4,922)	(12,273)	(12,776)
Gross margin	1,441	1,444	4,273	4,330
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,161)	(1,011)	(3,329)	(3,086)
Impairments and other costs		(9)	(65)	(9)
Settlement charges	(38)		(52)
Operating Income (Loss)	242	424	827	1,235
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	(1)	0	(1)
Intercompany	51	58	166	173
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	293	481	993	1,407
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(79)	(146)	(328)	(472)
Net income (loss)	214	335	665	935
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2	1	5	1
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	216	336	670	936
Comprehensive income (loss)	241	339	677	948
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2	1	5	1
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	243	340	682	949
Consolidating Adjustments
Net sales	(2,933)	(3,146)	(6,607)	(7,087)
Cost of sales	2,933	3,146	6,607	7,087
Gross margin	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Impairments and other costs		0	0	0
Settlement charges	0		0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0	0	0
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	84	(108)	(75)	(665)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	84	(108)	(75)	(665)
Federal, state and local income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	84	(108)	(75)	(665)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	84	(108)	(75)	(665)
Comprehensive income (loss)	12	(119)	(107)	(700)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	$ 12	$ (119)	$ (107)	$ (700)