Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Feb. 01, 2015	Feb. 02, 2014	Feb. 03, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 308,854us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 278,902us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 256,730us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	162,273	149,795	134,453
Loss on disposal/impairment of assets	2,410	2,764	8,388
Amortization of deferred lease incentives	(24,419)wsm_AmortizationLeaseIncentives	(25,382)wsm_AmortizationLeaseIncentives	(26,694)wsm_AmortizationLeaseIncentives
Deferred income taxes	(248)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(28,344)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(9,029)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Tax benefit related to stock-based awards	26,952	8,817	12,725
Excess tax benefit related to stock-based awards	(26,560)	(8,743)	(12,683)
Stock-based compensation expense	44,632us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	38,788us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	31,042us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Other	595us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	0us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	0us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Changes in:
Accounts receivable	(9,366)	786	(16,408)
Merchandise inventories	(76,964)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(174,664)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(85,981)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Prepaid catalog expenses	(386)	3,675	(2,937)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(61)	(13,649)	(12,204)
Accounts payable	4,455	135,095	22,461
Accrued salaries, benefits and other current and long-term liabilities	8,867	43,635	9,147
Customer deposits	34,400	21,578	16,962
Deferred rent and lease incentives	23,297	13,238	18,803
Income taxes payable	(17,034)	7,478	19,352
Net cash provided by operating activities	461,697	453,769	364,127
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(204,800)	(193,953)	(205,404)
Restricted cash receipts (deposits)	14,289	1,766	(1,323)
Proceeds from insurance reimbursements	1,644	1,518	115
Other	267	45	(203)
Net cash used in investing activities	(188,600)	(190,624)	(206,815)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchase of common stock	(224,377)	(239,274)	(155,080)
Payment of dividends	(125,758)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(111,581)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(87,847)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	90,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	0us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	0us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Repayments of borrowings under revolving line of credit	(90,000)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLinesOfCredit
Tax withholdings related to stock-based awards	(56,977)	(18,096)	(18,637)
Excess tax benefit related to stock-based awards	26,560	8,743	12,683
Net proceeds related to stock-based awards	4,077	6,614	14,637
Repayments of long-term obligations	(1,785)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(1,724)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	(1,796)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Other	(760)	(58)	(405)
Net cash used in financing activities	(379,020)	(355,376)	(236,445)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(1,271)	(2,203)	931
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(107,194)	(94,434)	(78,202)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	330,121	424,555	502,757
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	222,927	330,121	424,555
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for interest	1,269us-gaap_InterestPaid	1,270us-gaap_InterestPaid	1,651us-gaap_InterestPaid
Cash paid during the year for income taxes, net of refunds	$ 172,305us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet	$ 186,968us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet	$ 131,440us-gaap_IncomeTaxesPaidNet

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Amount of currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. Includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits. Also includes short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Excludes cash and cash equivalents within disposal group and discontinued operation.