Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Dec. 07, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2015
Entity Registrant Name	SHOE CARNIVAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000895447
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		19,952,300