Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012 Day	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Gift card breakage income	$ 4	$ 2	$ 4
Contingently issuable shares excluded from diluted earnings per share	0.9
Catalog Costs, amortization period	90
Prepaid catalog cost	3	4
Cash equivalents	830	675
Short-term deposits	191	165
Capitalized software, net of accumulated amortization	27	27
Self-insured liabilities total	14	15
Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of capitalized software	2 years
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life of capitalized software	7 years
Building
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maximum Estimated useful lives of the assets	50
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Maximum Estimated useful lives of the assets	10
Minimum Estimated useful lives of the assets	3
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Auction rate security
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$ 5	$ 5
Stock Option Plans
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Potential common shares excluded from calculation of diluted earning per share	3.8	4.5	6.3