This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 23
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84229725&loc=d3e1043-128460

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense for employee benefit and equity-based compensation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeBenefitsAndShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of expenses for special or contractual termination benefits provided to current employees involuntarily terminated under a benefit arrangement associated exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to one-time termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931487&loc=d3e140864-122747

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115931487&loc=d3e140904-122747

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of 1) total write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale) and 2) total charges associated with the termination of operating leases prior to their scheduled expiration date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wsm_AssetImpairmentAndEarlyLeaseTerminationCharges
Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of long-lived assets located in foreign countries in total in which the entity holds assets.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wsm_EntityWideDisclosureOnGeographicAreasLongLivedAssetsForeignCountries
Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Revenues from external customers attributed to all foreign countries in total from which the entity derives revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wsm_EntityWideDisclosureOnGeographicAreasRevenueFromExternalCustomersAttributableToForeignCountries
Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=wsm_ECommerceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_MaterialReconcilingItemsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=wsm_OutwardIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment Information (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2018	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 29, 2018	Jul. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues related to foreign operations	$ 80.7	$ 80.6	$ 160.1	$ 150.0
Expense related to impairment and early lease termination charges	5.3		5.3
Long-term assets related to foreign operations	52.9	$ 61.9	52.9	61.9
E-commerce
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense related to acquisition and other	3.6		9.1
Unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Severance, related reorganization charges				$ 5.7
Expense related to acquisition and other	1.4		2.8
Employee related expense	1.9		3.6
Outward Inc.
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Expense related to acquisition and other	$ 5.0		$ 11.9