Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2021	Mar. 22, 2021	Jul. 31, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 30, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	SHOE CARNIVAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000895447
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-01
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	SCVL
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		14,105,551
Entity Public Float			$ 250,858,087
Entity File Number	0-21360
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	IN
Entity Tax Identification Number	35-1736614
Entity Address, Address Line One	7500 East Columbia Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Evansville
Entity Address, State or Province	IN
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	47715
City Area Code	812
Local Phone Number	867-4034
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Certain information contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Registrant to be held on June 10, 2021 are incorporated by reference into PART III hereof.
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	false