LITIGATION MATTERS (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011
Alabama Collective Action [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Individuals who filed suit	1
Individuals currently included in the suit	265
California Class Action 1 [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Individuals who filed suit	3
Number of court filings	2
Alabama Equal Pay Act [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Individuals who filed suit	2
Claims settled with court approval	4
Number of plaintiff cases		4
Virginia Class Action [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Individuals who filed suit	34
California Class Action 2 [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Individuals who filed suit	1
Winn-Dixie selling rights violations [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss contingency, allegations	In June of this year, Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. and various of its affiliates instituted suit in federal court in Florida alleging that the Company, in approximately 48 shopping centers in the state of Florida and five other states where Dollar Tree and Winn-Dixie are both tenants, is selling goods and products in Dollar Tree stores in violation of an exclusive right of Winn-Dixie to sell and distribute such items. It seeks both monetary damages and injunctive relief. Discovery is on-going and the case is scheduled for trial in February of next year. Similar suits have been filed by Winn-Dixie in the same court against three other retailer defendants.
Shopping centers included in the suit	48
Federal Fair Labor Standards Act Action [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Individuals who filed suit	4
Number of court filings	4