Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Par value per share (usd per share) Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Shares authorized (in shares) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Shares issued (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Issued Shares outstanding (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Accounting Policies [Abstract] Disaggregation of Revenue [Table] Disaggregation of Revenue [Table] Product and Service [Axis] Product and Service [Axis] Product and Service [Domain] Product and Service [Domain] Ladies Ladies [Member] Ladies [Member] Home Accents and Bed and Bath Home Accents and Bed and Bath [Member] Home Accents and Bed and Bath [Member] Shoes Shoes [Member] Shoes [Member] Men's Mens [Member] Mens [Member] Accessories, Lingerie, Fine Jewelry, and Fragrances Accessories, Lingerie, Fine Jewelry, and Fragrances [Member] Accessories, Lingerie, Fine Jewelry, and Fragrances [Member] Children's Childrens [Member] Childrens [Member] Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items] Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items] Revenue by merchandise category Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax, Rate Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax, Rate Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Schedule of fair values Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Table Text Block] Schedule of fair value, assets and liabilities measured on recurring basis Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis [Table Text Block] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Prepaid expenses and other Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Prepaid Expenses and Other Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Prepaid Expenses and Other Other long-term assets Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Other Long Term Assets Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Other Long Term Assets Total restricted cash and cash equivalents Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and 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long-term assets Restricted Investments, Noncurrent Total restricted investments Restricted Investments Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document Type Document Type Amendment Flag Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares) Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Share-based Compensation [Abstract] Schedule of stock-based compensation expense by award type Schedule of Compensation Cost for Share-based Payment Arrangements, Allocation of Share-based Compensation Costs by Plan [Table Text Block] Total stock-based compensation recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of earnings Stock-Based Compensation Recognized In The Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Table Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Recognized In The Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Table Text Block] Unvested restricted stock activity Nonvested Restricted Stock Shares Activity [Table Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Basic EPS (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic EPS (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents, (in shares) Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents, (in dollars per share) Effect Of Dilutive Common Stock Equivalents Earnings Per Share Amount Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents earnings per share amount. Diluted EPS (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted EPS (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Domain] Equity Award [Domain] Restricted stock Restricted Stock [Member] Performance awards Performance Awards [Member] Performance Awards [Member] Employee stock purchase plan Employee Stock [Member] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Stock-based compensation Share-based Compensation Reconciliation of the number of shares (denominator) used in the basic and diluted EPS computations Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] Performance Restricted Stock Performance Shares [Member] Tax benefit related to stock-based compensation Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit from Compensation Expense Restricted stock vesting period (in years) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period Treasury shares purchased for tax withholding and available for reissuance (in shares) Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired Requisite service period (in years) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Requisite Service Period Unvested restricted stock (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number Unamortized compensation expense Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized Unamortized compensation expense, remaining weighted-average period of recognition (in years) Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition Plan participant's annual percentage ceiling for ESPP (up to) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Maximum Employee Subscription Rate Plan participant's annual dollar amount ceiling for ESPP (up to) Plan Participants Annual Dollar Amount Ceiling For E S P P Plan participant's dollar amount ceiling for ESPP contributions Purchase price for shares under the ESPP (as a percentage) Purchase Price For Shares Under E S P P Purchase price for shares under the ESPP Discount rate under the ESPP (as a percentage) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Discount from Market Price, Purchase Date Weighted average shares excluded from calculation of diluted EPS (in shares) Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Basis of presentation Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Revenue recognition and allowance for sales returns Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block] Restricted cash, cash equivalents and investments Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block] Property and equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block] Recently issued and adopted accounting standards New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Fair value measurement Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block] Earnings per share Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Assets Assets [Abstract] Current Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Short-term investments Short-term Investments Accounts receivable Receivables, Net, Current Merchandise inventory Inventory, Net Prepaid expenses and other Other Assets, Current Total current assets Assets, Current Property and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Land and buildings Land and buildings Land and Buildings. Fixtures and equipment Furniture and Fixtures, Gross Leasehold improvements Leasehold Improvements, Gross Construction-in-progress Construction in Progress, Gross Property and equipment, gross Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Property and equipment, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Long-term investments Long-term Investments Other long-term assets Other Assets, Noncurrent Total assets Assets Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Current Liabilities Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current Accrued expenses and other Accrued Liabilities, Current Accrued payroll and benefits Employee-related Liabilities, Current Current portion of long-term debt Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Other long-term liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Liabilities, Net Commitments and contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders’ Equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Common stock, par value $.01 per share Authorized 1,000,000,000 shares Issued and outstanding 373,868,000, 379,618,000 and 385,923,000 shares, respectively Common Stock, Value, Issued Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Treasury stock Treasury Stock, Value Accumulated other comprehensive income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Retained earnings Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Total stockholders’ equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity Liabilities and Equity Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Interest expense on long-term debt Interest Expense, Debt Other interest expense Interest Expense, Other Capitalized interest Interest Costs Capitalized Adjustment Interest income Interest Income, Other Interest (income) expense, net Interest Income (Expense), Net Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table] Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table] Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, by Report Line [Axis] Income Statement Location [Axis] Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Report Line [Domain] Income Statement Location [Domain] Cost of goods sold Cost of Sales [Member] Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Compensation Cost [Line Items] Investment [Table] Investment [Table] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Fair Value, Measurements, Fair Value Hierarchy [Domain] Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Level 1 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Level 2 Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Investment [Line Items] Investment [Line Items] Underlying assets in non-qualified deferred compensation program Deferred Compensation Plan Assets Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Number of shares Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] Beginning Balance (in shares) Awarded (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period Released (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period Forfeited (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period Ending Balance (in shares) Weighted average grant date fair value Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract] Beginning Balance (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Awarded (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Released (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Forfeited (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeitures, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Ending Balance (in dollars per share) Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument [Axis] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] 3.375% Senior Notes due 2024 Senior Notes due 2024 [Member] Senior Notes due 2024 [Member] Senior Note Held by Various Investors Senior Note Held by Various Investors [Member] Senior Note Held by Various Investors [Member] 6.38% Series A Senior Notes due 2018 Senior Notes due 2018 [Member] Senior Notes due 2018 [Member] 6.53% Series B Senior Notes due 2021 Senior Notes due 2021 [Member] Senior Notes due 2021 [Member] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Unsecured Series A and B Senior Notes Unsecured Series A and B Senior Notes [Member] Unsecured Series A and B Senior Notes [Member] 6.38% Series A Senior Notes due 2018 Series A Unsecured Senior Notes [Member] Series A unsecured senior notes [Member] 6.53% Series B Senior Notes due 2021 Series B Unsecured Senior Notes [Member] Series B unsecured senior notes [Member] Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility Debt Instrument [Line Items] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Unsecured senior notes interest rate Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Debt instrument Debt Instrument, Face Amount Number of unsecured senior notes held Number of Unsecured Senior Notes Held Number of Unsecured Senior Notes Held Total unamortized discount and debt issuance costs Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount (Premium) and Debt Issuance Costs, Net Unsecured senior notes estimated fair value Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure Current borrowing capacity Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity Sublimit for issuance of standby letters of credit Sublimit For Issuance Of Standby Letters Of Credit Sublimit for issuance of standby letters of credit Maximum borrowing capacity (up to) Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity Basis points margin over LIBOR Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Borrowings or standby letters of credit Long-term Line of Credit Income Statement [Abstract] Sales Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax Costs and Expenses Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Cost of goods sold Cost of Goods and Services Sold Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense Interest (income) expense, net Total costs and expenses Costs and Expenses Earnings before taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Provision for taxes on earnings Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Net earnings Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Earnings per share Basic (in dollars per share) Diluted (in dollars per share) Weighted average shares outstanding Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Basic (in shares) Diluted (in shares) Dividends Dividends, Common Stock [Abstract] Stores open at end of period (in number of stores) Number of Stores Stated interest rate Long-term debt Long-term Debt Schedule of long-term debt Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block] Interest income and interest expense disclosure Interest Income and Interest Expense Disclosure [Table Text Block] Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Net earnings Other comprehensive (loss) income: Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Abstract] Change in unrealized loss on investments, net of tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Securities, Available-for-Sale, Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, after Tax Comprehensive income Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash Flows From Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Change in assets and liabilities: Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract] Merchandise inventory Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Other current liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Liabilities Other long-term, net Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets and Liabilities, Net Net cash provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash Flows From Investing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Additions to property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from investments Proceeds from Sale, Maturity and Collection of Investments Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Cash Flows From Financing Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Issuance of common stock related to stock plans Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Including Stock Options Treasury stock purchased Payments for Repurchase of Other Equity Repurchase of common stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Dividends paid Payments of Ordinary Dividends, Common Stock Net cash used in financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents: Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect [Abstract] Beginning of period End of period Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Interest paid Interest Paid, Including Capitalized Interest, Operating and Investing Activities Income taxes paid Income Taxes Paid, Net Disaggregation of revenue Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block] Schedule of restricted cash reconciliation Schedule of Restricted Cash Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Schedule of Restricted Cash Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Schedule of restricted investments Schedule of Restricted Investments [Table Text Block] Schedule of Restricted Investments [Table Text Block] Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure Restricted cash and cash equivalents Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Fair Value Disclosure Investments Investments, Fair Value Disclosure Restricted investments Restricted Investments, at Fair Value Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block]