Accounts Receivable (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Franchise and license receivable	$ 24,945aeo_FranchiseReceivable	$ 22,943aeo_FranchiseReceivable
Merchandise sell-offs and vendor receivables	12,953	16,106
Credit card program receivable	9,637us-gaap_CreditCardReceivables	15,000us-gaap_CreditCardReceivables
Marketing cost reimbursements	4,640aeo_MarketingCostReimbursements	6,063aeo_MarketingCostReimbursements
Gift card receivable	4,453aeo_GiftCardReceivable	986aeo_GiftCardReceivable
Landlord construction allowances	3,354aeo_LandlordConstructionAllowance	11,626aeo_LandlordConstructionAllowance
Other Items	7,912us-gaap_OtherReceivablesNetCurrent	1,158us-gaap_OtherReceivablesNetCurrent
Total	$ 67,894us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	$ 73,882us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent

The amount due from a franchisee for obligations owed to the franchisor as part of the franchise agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	aeo_FranchiseReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount due to the company related to the transfer of gift cards to vendors for resale in third-party locations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeo_GiftCardReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount due from a landlord for construction allowances related to retail stores.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeo_LandlordConstructionAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount due from a third-party credit card for customer credit card issuances and usage based upon an executed agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeo_MarketingCostReimbursements
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Merchandise Selloffs and Vendor Receivables

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aeo_MerchandiseSelloffsAndVendorReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3-4)

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph a(1)

-Article 5

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 4

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsReceivableNetCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amounts receivable from issuing a card to individuals or businesses that allows someone to make a purchase on borrowed money.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditCardReceivables
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of other receivables, net, due within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from third parties or arising from transactions not separately disclosed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherReceivablesNetCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant