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v3.20.2

Interim Financial Statements - Additional Information (Detail) | Oct. 31, 2020 Store
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Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Number of retail stores | 1,000
Number of international store locations | 200

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- Definition Number of international store locations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | aeo_NumberOfInternationalStoreLocations
Namespace Prefix: | aeo_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

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- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of stores. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfStores
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant