Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2019	Nov. 03, 2018	Nov. 02, 2019	Nov. 03, 2018
Net sales	$ 5,173	$ 5,404	$ 16,223	$ 16,516
Credit card revenues, net	183	185	531	528
Cost of sales	(3,106)	(3,226)	(9,905)	(9,927)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(2,202)	(2,255)	(6,489)	(6,501)
Gains on sale of real estate	17	42	67	111
Impairment, restructuring and other costs	(13)	(3)	(16)	(39)
Operating income (loss)	52	147	411	688
Benefit plan income, net	8	9	23	31
Settlement charges	(12)	(23)	(12)	(73)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(48)	(59)	(143)	(187)
Interest Expense, Other	0	0	0	0
Loss on early retirement of debt	0	0	0	(5)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	74	279	454
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	2	(12)	(55)	(96)
Net income (loss)	2	62	224	358
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	10
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	2	62	224	368
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(35)	(37)	198	286
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	10
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(35)	(37)	198	296
Parent
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Credit card revenues, net	0	0	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	1	0
Gains on sale of real estate	0	0	0	0
Impairment, restructuring and other costs	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	1	0
Benefit plan income, net	0	0	0	0
Settlement charges	0	0	0	(5)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	3	4	11	13
Interest Expense, Other	0	0	0	0
Loss on early retirement of debt				0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(3)	59	212	362
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	63	224	370
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	2	(1)	0	(2)
Net income (loss)	2	62	224	368
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	2	62	224	368
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(35)	(37)	198	296
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(35)	(37)	198	296
Subsidiary Issuer
Net sales	2,044	2,030	6,418	6,110
Credit card revenues, net	(2)	0	(8)	(3)
Cost of sales	(1,230)	(1,266)	(3,913)	(3,857)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(870)	(883)	(2,544)	(2,522)
Gains on sale of real estate	8	41	32	83
Impairment, restructuring and other costs	(1)	0	(1)	0
Operating income (loss)	(51)	(78)	(16)	(189)
Benefit plan income, net	3	3	9	12
Settlement charges	0	(8)	0	(24)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	(52)	(64)	(157)	(203)
Interest Expense, Other	(18)	(18)	(55)	(54)
Loss on early retirement of debt				(5)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	(125)	(58)	(264)	51
Income (loss) before income taxes	(243)	(223)	(483)	(412)
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	30	57	61	123
Net income (loss)	(213)	(166)	(422)	(289)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(213)	(166)	(422)	(289)
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(249)	(257)	(448)	(357)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	(249)	(257)	(448)	(357)
Other Subsidiaries
Net sales	5,245	6,185	14,428	16,462
Credit card revenues, net	185	185	539	531
Cost of sales	(3,992)	(4,771)	(10,615)	(12,126)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1,332)	(1,372)	(3,946)	(3,979)
Gains on sale of real estate	9	1	35	28
Impairment, restructuring and other costs	(12)	(3)	(15)	(39)
Operating income (loss)	103	225	426	877
Benefit plan income, net	5	6	14	19
Settlement charges	(12)	(15)	(12)	(44)
Interest (expense) income, net
External	1	1	3	3
Interest Expense, Other	18	18	55	54
Loss on early retirement of debt				0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	115	235	486	909
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	(30)	(68)	(116)	(217)
Net income (loss)	85	167	370	692
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	10
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	85	167	370	702
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	65	106	358	646
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	10
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	65	106	358	656
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(2,116)	(2,811)	(4,623)	(6,056)
Credit card revenues, net	0	0	0	0
Cost of sales	2,116	2,811	4,623	6,056
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Gains on sale of real estate	0	0	0	0
Impairment, restructuring and other costs	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Benefit plan income, net	0	0	0	0
Settlement charges	0	0	0	0
Interest (expense) income, net
External	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense, Other	0	0	0	0
Loss on early retirement of debt				0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	128	(1)	52	(413)
Income (loss) before income taxes	128	(1)	52	(413)
Federal, state and local income tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	128	(1)	52	(413)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	128	(1)	52	(413)
Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	184	151	90	(299)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Macy's, Inc. shareholders	$ 184	$ 151	$ 90	$ (299)