Contract Term

No definition available.

Name:	aeo_ContractTerm
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	aeo_DebtDisclosureLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Financial Institution

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeo_NumberOfFinancialInstitution
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the frequency of periodic payments, which may be presented in a variety of ways (for example, monthly, quarterly, annually).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityFrequencyOfPayments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDescription
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount as of the balance sheet date for the aggregate of other miscellaneous borrowings owed by the reporting entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.13,16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 13, 16

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Other Credit Arrangements - Additional Information (Detail) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2012 Entity	Mar. 02, 2012 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2012 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility USD ($)	Mar. 02, 2012 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility Base Rate Minimum	Mar. 02, 2012 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility Base Rate Maximum	Mar. 02, 2012 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility Eurodollar Rates Minimum	Mar. 02, 2012 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility Eurodollar Rates Maximum	Jul. 28, 2012 Demand letter of credit facilities Currency, U.S. Dollar USD ($)	Mar. 02, 2012 Demand letter of credit facilities Currency, U.S. Dollar USD ($)	Mar. 02, 2012 Demand line borrowings Currency, Canadian Dollar CAD
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Unsecured revolving credit facility, expiration period		5 years
Borrowing agreements with financial institutions		$ 150.0						$ 135.0	$ 110.0	25.0
Credit facility interest rate description		The Credit Agreement has various borrowing options, including rates of interest that are based on (i) an Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR" as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a margin ranging from 1.00% to 1.75% based on a defined leverage ratio, payable at the end of the applicable interest period; and (ii) a Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement), plus a margin ranging from 0.00% to 0.75% based on a defined leverage ratio, payable quarterly.
Frequency of payments for interest on borrowing		Quarterly
Interest rate margin				1.00%	1.75%	0.00%	0.75%
Commitment fee payable on the unused portion of total lender commitments				0.175%	0.30%
Outstanding borrowings			7.6					57.9
Borrowings			$ 0
Borrowing agreements, number of financial institutions	2