v2.4.1.9

Taxes (Reconciliation Of Beginning And Ending Amount Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 31, 2015 | Feb. 01, 2014 | Feb. 02, 2013
Balance, beginning of period | $ 189 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 170 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 179 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year | 33 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 37 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 18 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
Additions for tax positions of prior years | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 0 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | 18 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Reductions for tax positions of prior years | (15)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | (1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions | (19)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Settlements | (23)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities | (1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities | (9)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
Statute expirations | (12)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations | (16)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations | (17)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
Balance, end of period | 172 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 189 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 170 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Current income taxes | 11 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsCurrent | 31 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsCurrent | 20 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsCurrent
Unrecognized tax benefits | 172 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 189 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 170 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Long term deferred income taxes [Member] |  |  |
Long-term uncertian tax positions | 6 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = m_LongTermDeferredIncomeTaxesMember | 11 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = m_LongTermDeferredIncomeTaxesMember | 23 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = m_LongTermDeferredIncomeTaxesMember
Other Liabilities [Member] |  |  |
Long-term uncertian tax positions | $ 155 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | $ 147 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember | $ 127 us-gaap_LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent / us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis = us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember

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- Definition The current portion of the amount recognized for uncertain tax positions as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition The noncurrent portion of the amount recognized for uncertain tax positions as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.24) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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- Definition Amount of unrecognized tax benefits pertaining to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Unrecognized Tax Benefit -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6527854 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements with taxing authorities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions that have been or will be taken in current period tax return. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from lapses of applicable statutes of limitations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15A -Subparagraph (a)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=SL6600010-109319 + Details
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