advertising expense as a percent of sales

No definition available.

Name:	m_Advertisingexpenseasapercentofsales
Namespace Prefix:	m_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross expense recognized in the period for promotion, public relation and brand or produce advertising, including amouns received by an entity from a vendor under a cooperative advertising arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	m_GrossAdvertisingAndPromotionalCosts
Namespace Prefix:	m_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total amount received by an entity from a vendor under a cooperative advertising arrangement that has been offset against advertising expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 705
-SubTopic 20
-Section 25
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68067574&loc=SL51760044-203187

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CooperativeAdvertisingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total expense recognized in the period for promotion, public relations, and brand or product advertising.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, excluding tax collected from customer, of revenue from satisfaction of performance obligation by transferring promised good or service to customer. Tax collected from customer is tax assessed by governmental authority that is both imposed on and concurrent with specific revenue-producing transaction, including, but not limited to, sales, use, value added and excise.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130543-203045

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130539-203045

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109196051&loc=SL49130545-203045

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Advertising expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2019	Nov. 03, 2018	Aug. 04, 2018	May 05, 2018	Feb. 03, 2018	Oct. 28, 2017	Jul. 29, 2017	Apr. 29, 2017	Feb. 02, 2019	Feb. 03, 2018	Jan. 28, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Gross advertising and promotional costs									$ 1,358	$ 1,397	$ 1,547
Cooperative advertising allowances									196	289	394
Advertising and promotional costs, net of cooperative advertising allowances									1,162	1,108	1,153
Net sales	$ 8,455	$ 5,404	$ 5,572	$ 5,541	$ 8,672	$ 5,281	$ 5,636	$ 5,350	$ 24,971	$ 24,939	$ 25,908
Advertising expense as a percent to sales									4.70%	4.40%	4.50%