Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Equity [Member]	Accumulated Equity [Member] Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Parent [Member]	Parent [Member] Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning balance at Feb. 03, 2018	$ 5,733		$ 3	$ 676	$ 7,246		$ (1,456)	$ (724)	$ 5,745		$ (12)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	1,098				1,108				1,108		(10)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(63)							(63)	(63)
Common stock dividends	(468)				(468)				(468)
Stock-based compensation expense	63			63					63
Stock issued under stock plans	51			(87)			138		51
Stranded tax costs	0				164			(164)	0
Macy's China Limited	22								0		22
Ending balance at Feb. 02, 2019	6,436		3	652	8,050		(1,318)	(951)	6,436		0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative-effect adjustment		$ (158)				$ (158)				$ (158)
Net income (loss)	564				564				564
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(40)							(40)	(40)
Common stock dividends	(470)				(470)				(470)
Stock repurchases	(1)						(1)		(1)
Stock-based compensation expense	38			38					38
Stock issued under stock plans	9			(69)			78		9
Other	(1)				3			(4)	(1)
Ending balance at Feb. 01, 2020	6,377		3	621	7,989		(1,241)	(995)	6,377		0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	(3,944)				(3,944)				(3,944)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	204							204	204
Common stock dividends	(117)				(117)				(117)
Stock-based compensation expense	31			31					31
Stock issued under stock plans	(1)			(81)			80		(1)
Other	3				0			3	3
Ending balance at Jan. 30, 2021	$ 2,553		$ 3	$ 571	$ 3,928		$ (1,161)	$ (788)	$ 2,553		$ 0