v2.4.1.9

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Advertising expenses (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Nov. 01, 2014	Aug. 02, 2014	May 03, 2014	Feb. 01, 2014	Nov. 02, 2013	Aug. 03, 2013	May 04, 2013	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Gross advertising and promotional costs									$ 1,602m_GrossAdvertisingAndPromotionalCosts	$ 1,623m_GrossAdvertisingAndPromotionalCosts	$ 1,554m_GrossAdvertisingAndPromotionalCosts
Cooperative advertising allowances									425us-gaap_CooperativeAdvertisingAmount	457us-gaap_CooperativeAdvertisingAmount	431us-gaap_CooperativeAdvertisingAmount
Advertising and promotional costs, net of cooperative advertising allowances									1,177us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense	1,166us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense	1,123us-gaap_MarketingAndAdvertisingExpense
Net sales	$ 9,364us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 6,195us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 6,267us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 6,279us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 9,202us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 6,276us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 6,066us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 6,387us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 28,105us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 27,931us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 27,686us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Advertising expense as a percent to sales									4.20%m_Advertisingexpenseasapercentofsales	4.20%m_Advertisingexpenseasapercentofsales	4.10%m_Advertisingexpenseasapercentofsales

X

- Definition

advertising expense as a percent of sales

+ References

No definition available.

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X

- Definition

Gross expense recognized in the period for promotion, public relation and brand or produce advertising, including amouns received by an entity from a vendor under a cooperative advertising arrangement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	m_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Total amount received by an entity from a vendor under a cooperative advertising arrangement that has been offset against advertising expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Cooperative Advertising

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509061



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 605

-SubTopic 50

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6408645&loc=d3e63872-111659

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The total expense recognized in the period for promotion, public relations, and brand or product advertising.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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X

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

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