CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jul. 31, 2021	Jan. 30, 2021	Aug. 01, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 773,994	$ 850,477	$ 898,787
Short-term investments	50,000
Merchandise inventory	503,507	405,445	421,196
Accounts receivable, net	155,361	146,102	107,243
Prepaid expenses and other	118,721	120,619	155,141
Total current assets	1,601,583	1,522,643	1,582,367
Property and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation	641,396	623,808	659,351
Operating lease right-of-use assets	1,103,247	1,155,965	1,271,491
Intangible assets net, including goodwill	70,620	70,332	51,432
Non-current deferred income taxes	46,600	33,045	30,224
Other assets	31,576	29,013	33,111
Total assets	3,495,022	3,434,806	3,627,976
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	221,471	255,912	295,296
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	288,534	328,624	348,921
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes	133,185	142,272	66,131
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses	56,568	55,343	51,281
Unredeemed gift cards and gift certificates	44,095	62,181	43,165
Accrued income and other taxes	25,365	14,150	12,783
Dividends payable			22,837
Total current liabilities	769,218	858,482	840,414
Non-current liabilities:
Non-current operating lease liabilities	1,094,386	1,148,742	1,253,105
Long-term debt, net	331,680	325,290	516,953
Other non-current liabilities	24,207	15,627	19,604
Total non-current liabilities	1,450,273	1,489,659	1,789,662
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 600,000 shares authorized; 249,566 shares issued; 168,454, 166,335, and 166,090 shares outstanding, respectively	2,496	2,496	2,496
Contributed capital	630,506	663,718	647,284
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(36,894)	(40,748)	(47,991)
Retained earnings	2,058,448	1,868,613	1,807,687
Treasury stock, 81,112, 83,231, and 83,476 shares, respectively	(1,379,025)	(1,407,414)	(1,411,576)
Total stockholders’ equity	1,275,531	1,086,665	997,900
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 3,495,022	$ 3,434,806	$ 3,627,976

Unredeemed gift cards and gift certificates, current.

No definition available.

Name:	aeo_UnredeemedGiftCardsAndGiftCertificatesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).