Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Nov. 03, 2018 USD ($) stores Rate	Oct. 28, 2017 USD ($) Rate	Nov. 03, 2018 USD ($) stores Rate	Oct. 28, 2017 USD ($) Rate	Feb. 03, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 28, 2017 USD ($)
Contract with Customer, Liability, Current	$ 711	$ 707	$ 711	$ 707	$ 894
sales by product category	5,404	5,281	16,516	16,267
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax			164
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Cumulative Effect of Change on Equity or Net Assets					72	$ 54
Revenue Recognition, Sales Returns, Reserve for Sales Returns	$ 265	$ 260	$ 265	$ 260	291
Macy's sales to total Company sales \| Rate	88.00%	88.00%	88.00%	88.00%
Number of states in which entity operates	44		44
Contract with Customer, Right to Recover Product	$ 180	$ 178	$ 180	$ 178	201
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 41	54	$ 41	54	$ 58	$ 37
Premiums paid on early retirement of debt				10
Minimum [Member]
Number of Stores \| stores	870		870
Women's Accessories, Intimate Apparel, Shoes and Cosmetics [Member]
sales by product category	$ 2,010	1,989	$ 6,221	6,122
Women's Apparel [Member]
sales by product category	1,264	1,247	3,969	3,989
Men's and Children's [Member]
sales by product category	1,243	1,184	3,702	3,558
Home and Miscellaneous [Member]
sales by product category	$ 887	$ 861	$ 2,624	$ 2,598

% of Macy's sales to total Company sales

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