Fair Value Measurements (Policy)	6 Months Ended
Jul. 30, 2011
Fair Value Measurements
Annual Impairment Testing Process Of Goodwill And Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets	The Company reviews the carrying value of its goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives at least annually for possible impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 350, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other." Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives have been assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing. The reporting units are the Company's retail operating divisions. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment annually at the end of the fiscal month of May. The Macy's retail operating division is the only reporting unit with goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets. During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company completed its annual impairment test of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets. The goodwill impairment testing process includes estimating the fair value of the applicable reporting unit based on its estimated discounted cash flows and comparing the estimated fair value of the applicable reporting unit to its carrying value. The goodwill impairment testing process involves the use of unobservable inputs (level 3) and significant assumptions, estimates and judgments by management, and is subject to inherent uncertainties and subjectivity. Estimating a reporting unit's discounted cash flows involves the use of significant assumptions, estimates and judgments with respect to a variety of factors, including sales, gross margin and selling, general and administrative rates, capital expenditures, cash flows and the selection of an appropriate discount rate. Projected sales, gross margin and selling, general and administrative expense rate assumptions and estimated capital expenditures are based on the Company's business plan or other long term forecasted results. Discount rates reflect market-based estimates of the risks associated with the projected cash flows of the reporting unit directly resulting from the use of its assets in its operations. Based on the results of the annual impairment test of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets, the Company determined that goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets were not impaired as of May 28, 2011 and the estimated fair value of the Macy's retail operating division substantially exceeded its carrying value. The use of different assumptions, estimates or judgments in the goodwill impairment testing process, including with respect to the estimated future long term cash flows of the Company's reporting units, the discount rate used to discount such estimated cash flows to their net present value, and the reasonableness of the resultant implied control premium relative to the Company's market capitalization, could materially increase or decrease the estimated fair value of a reporting unit and, accordingly, could impact the results of the annual impairment test.

The Company reviews the carrying value of its goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives at least annually for possible impairment in accordance with ASC Topic 350, "Intangibles – Goodwill and Other." Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives have been assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing. The reporting units are the Company's retail operating divisions. Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are tested for impairment annually at the end of the fiscal month of May. The Macy's retail operating division is the only reporting unit with goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company completed its annual impairment test of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets. The goodwill impairment testing process includes estimating the fair value of the applicable reporting unit based on its estimated discounted cash flows and comparing the estimated fair value of the applicable reporting unit to its carrying value. The goodwill impairment testing process involves the use of unobservable inputs (level 3) and significant assumptions, estimates and judgments by management, and is subject to inherent uncertainties and subjectivity. Estimating a reporting unit's discounted cash flows involves the use of significant assumptions, estimates and judgments with respect to a variety of factors, including sales, gross margin and selling, general and administrative rates, capital expenditures, cash flows and the selection of an appropriate discount rate. Projected sales, gross margin and selling, general and administrative expense rate assumptions and estimated capital expenditures are based on the Company's business plan or other long term forecasted results. Discount rates reflect market-based estimates of the risks associated with the projected cash flows of the reporting unit directly resulting from the use of its assets in its operations.

Based on the results of the annual impairment test of goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets, the Company determined that goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets were not impaired as of May 28, 2011 and the estimated fair value of the Macy's retail operating division substantially exceeded its carrying value.

The use of different assumptions, estimates or judgments in the goodwill impairment testing process, including with respect to the estimated future long term cash flows of the Company's reporting units, the discount rate used to discount such estimated cash flows to their net present value, and the reasonableness of the resultant implied control premium relative to the Company's market capitalization, could materially increase or decrease the estimated fair value of a reporting unit and, accordingly, could impact the results of the annual impairment test.