Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
Net sales	$ 5,338	$ 5,771
Cost of sales	(3,306)	(3,516)
Gross margin	2,032	2,255
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,812)	(1,966)
Settlement charges	0	(13)
Operating Income (Loss)	220	276
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(84)	(98)
Intercompany	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	133	178
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(63)	(63)
Net income (loss)	70	115
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	1
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	71	116
Comprehensive income (loss)	76	107
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	1
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	77	108
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	1
Intercompany	0	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	71	116
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	71	116
Federal, state and local income tax expense	0	0
Net income (loss)	71	116
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	71	116
Comprehensive income (loss)	77	108
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	77	108
Subsidiary Issuer
Net sales	2,056	2,454
Cost of sales	(1,378)	(1,604)
Gross margin	678	850
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(704)	(882)
Settlement charges		(3)
Operating Income (Loss)	(26)	(35)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(85)	(99)
Intercompany	(34)	(58)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(9)	10
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(157)	(182)
Federal, state and local income tax expense	30	61
Net income (loss)	(127)	(121)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(127)	(121)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(121)	(129)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(121)	(129)
Other Subsidiaries
Net sales	5,126	5,374
Cost of sales	(3,772)	(3,969)
Gross margin	1,354	1,405
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,107)	(1,083)
Settlement charges		(10)
Operating Income (Loss)	247	312
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0
Intercompany	34	58
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	281	370
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(93)	(124)
Net income (loss)	188	246
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	1
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	189	247
Comprehensive income (loss)	192	241
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	1	1
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	193	242
Consolidating Adjustments
Net sales	(1,844)	(2,057)
Cost of sales	1,844	2,057
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
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(62)	(126)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(62)	(126)
Federal, state and local income tax expense	0	0
Net income (loss)	(62)	(126)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(62)	(126)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(72)	(113)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	$ (72)	$ (113)