Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2017	Oct. 29, 2016	Oct. 28, 2017	Oct. 29, 2016
Net sales	$ 5,281	$ 5,626	$ 16,171	$ 17,263
Cost of sales	(3,175)	(3,386)	(9,794)	(10,370)
Gross margin	2,106	2,240	6,377	6,893
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,995)	(2,112)	(5,853)	(6,139)
Gains on sale of real estate	65	41	176	76
Impairments, restructuring and other costs	(33)	0	(33)	(249)
Settlement charges	(22)	(62)	(73)	(81)
Operating Income (Loss)	121	107	594	500
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(74)	(81)	(237)	(276)
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Net premiums on early retirement of debt	0	0	(1)	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	47	26	356	224
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(13)	(11)	(140)	(85)
Net income (loss)	34	15	216	139
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2	2	6	5
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	36	17	222	144
Comprehensive income (loss)	59	60	312	159
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2	2	6	5
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	61	62	318	164
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	(1)	(1)	(2)
Gains on sale of real estate	0	0	0	0
Impairments, restructuring and other costs	0		0	0
Settlement charges	0	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	(1)	(1)	(2)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	1	1	4	2
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Net premiums on early retirement of debt			0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	35	17	220	144
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	36	17	223	144
Federal, state and local income tax expense	0	0	(1)	0
Net income (loss)	36	17	222	144
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	36	17	222	144
Comprehensive income (loss)	61	62	318	164
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	61	62	318	164
Subsidiary Issuer
Net sales	2,077	2,376	6,319	7,324
Cost of sales	(1,391)	(1,577)	(4,126)	(4,704)
Gross margin	686	799	2,193	2,620
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(813)	(950)	(2,430)	(2,803)
Gains on sale of real estate	24	41	116	71
Impairments, restructuring and other costs	(1)		(1)	(184)
Settlement charges	(8)	(24)	(24)	(29)
Operating Income (Loss)	(112)	(134)	(146)	(325)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(76)	(82)	(243)	(278)
Intercompany	(34)	(51)	(102)	(166)
Net premiums on early retirement of debt			(1)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(61)	(101)	(30)	(69)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	(283)	(368)	(522)	(838)
Federal, state and local income tax expense	59	68	142	243
Net income (loss)	(224)	(300)	(380)	(595)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(224)	(300)	(380)	(595)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(201)	(255)	(290)	(575)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(201)	(255)	(290)	(575)
Other Subsidiaries
Net sales	5,861	6,183	15,727	16,546
Cost of sales	(4,441)	(4,742)	(11,543)	(12,273)
Gross margin	1,420	1,441	4,184	4,273
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,182)	(1,161)	(3,422)	(3,334)
Gains on sale of real estate	41	0	60	5
Impairments, restructuring and other costs	(32)		(32)	(65)
Settlement charges	(14)	(38)	(49)	(52)
Operating Income (Loss)	233	242	741	827
Interest (expense) income, net
External	1	0	2	0
Intercompany	34	51	102	166
Net premiums on early retirement of debt			0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	268	293	845	993
Federal, state and local income tax expense	(72)	(79)	(281)	(328)
Net income (loss)	196	214	564	665
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2	2	6	5
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	198	216	570	670
Comprehensive income (loss)	212	241	627	677
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	2	2	6	5
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	214	243	633	682
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(2,657)	(2,933)	(5,875)	(6,607)
Cost of sales	2,657	2,933	5,875	6,607
Gross margin	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Gains on sale of real estate	0	0	0	0
Impairments, restructuring and other costs	0		0	0
Settlement charges	0	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0	0	0
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Net premiums on early retirement of debt			0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	26	84	(190)	(75)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest	26	84	(190)	(75)
Federal, state and local income tax expense	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	26	84	(190)	(75)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	26	84	(190)	(75)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(13)	12	(343)	(107)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	$ (13)	$ 12	$ (343)	$ (107)