Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Apr. 03, 2015	Aug. 02, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2015
Entity Registrant Name	SHOE CARNIVAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000895447
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		20,479,912
Entity Public Float			$ 260,278,596