Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2012	Nov. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 27, 2012
Entity Registrant Name	SHOE CARNIVAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000895447
Trading Symbol	SCVL
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-02
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		20,430,373