Loans, overdrafts and long-term debt - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
	May. 15, 2014	Apr. 30, 2016	May. 02, 2015	Jul. 30, 2016	Jan. 30, 2016	May. 19, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amortization of financing costs		$ 900,000	$ 900,000
Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity		400,000,000
Letters of credit outstanding		$ 23,800,000	21,000,000		$ 28,800,000
Weighted average interest rate		1.42%
Capitalized fees		$ 1,200,000
Accumulated amortization of noncurrent deferred finance costs		500,000	200,000		400,000
Amortization of financing costs		100,000	$ 100,000
Credit Facility | Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount		$ 400,000,000
Weighted average interest rate		1.71%	1.45%
Capitalized fees		$ 5,500,000
Accumulated amortization of noncurrent deferred finance costs		2,100,000	$ 1,000,000		1,800,000
Amortization of financing costs		$ 300,000	$ 200,000
Securitization Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate		1.90%	1.53%
Capitalized fees		$ 2,800,000
Accumulated amortization of noncurrent deferred finance costs		2,700,000	$ 1,300,000		2,400,000
Amortization of financing costs		300,000	400,000
Debt instrument, maturity period	2 years
Signet UK Finance plc | Senior Unsecured Notes Due in 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount						$ 400,000,000
Capitalized fees		7,000,000
Accumulated amortization of noncurrent deferred finance costs		1,400,000	700,000		$ 1,200,000
Amortization of financing costs		$ 200,000	$ 200,000
Stated interest rate						4.70%
Scenario, Forecast | Securitization Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Capitalized fees				$ 600,000