Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
May 03, 2015	May 04, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 44,790us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 46,162us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	41,478	38,630
Loss on disposal/impairment of assets	1,694	644
Amortization of deferred lease incentives	(5,999)wsm_AmortizationLeaseIncentives	(5,782)wsm_AmortizationLeaseIncentives
Deferred income taxes	(5,498)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(4,649)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Tax benefit related to stock-based awards	20,572	43,223
Excess tax benefit related to stock-based awards	(8,724)	(21,371)
Stock-based compensation expense	14,010us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	12,368us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Other	51us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense	173us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense
Changes in:
Accounts receivable	2,864	5,692
Merchandise inventories	(53,746)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	(36,108)us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories
Prepaid catalog expenses	(1,706)	(1,430)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(21,439)	(41,951)
Accounts payable	(25,030)	(19,276)
Accrued salaries, benefits and other current and long-term liabilities	(51,387)	(48,164)
Customer deposits	(3,106)	5,216
Deferred rent and lease incentives	8,260	3,092
Income taxes payable	(24,155)	(46,798)
Net cash used in operating activities	(67,071)	(70,329)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(40,384)	(38,119)
Other	5	133
Net cash used in investing activities	(40,379)	(37,986)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	60,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit	0us-gaap_ProceedsFromLinesOfCredit
Repurchase of common stock	(52,562)	(53,309)
Payment of dividends	(31,934)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends	(32,891)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Tax withholdings related to stock-based awards	(21,734)	(46,730)
Excess tax benefit related to stock-based awards	8,724	21,371
Net proceeds related to stock-based awards	1,836	2,997
Other	0	(6)
Net cash used in financing activities	(35,670)	(108,568)
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents	(956)	(368)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(144,076)	(217,251)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	222,927	330,121
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 78,851	$ 112,870

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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.