Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2019	Mar. 25, 2019	Aug. 03, 2018
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Feb. 02, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	SHOE CARNIVAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000895447
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-02
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
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 Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,374,819,000
Entity Public Float			$ 395,489,636