v2.3.0.11
Equity Based Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jul. 30, 2011
Jul. 31, 2010
Jul. 30, 2011
Jul. 31, 2010
Jan. 29, 2011
Equity Based Employee Benefit Plans Disclosure [Abstract]          
Equity based employee benefit plans, compensation expense $ 46,074,000 $ 35,864,000 $ 81,470,000 $ 69,629,000  
Nonqualified stock options and restricted shares to be expensed 270,600,000   270,600,000    
Stock Options          
Number of shares, outstanding (in shares) 48,651,411 [1]   48,651,411 [1]   44,813,257 [1]
Number of shares, exercisable (in shares) 35,207,921 [1]   35,207,921 [1]    
Total intrinsic value of options exercised     9,300,000 13,400,000  
Number of Shares, Exercised (1,467,274) [1]        
Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share, Outstanding at Beginning of Period (in dollars per share)     $ 19.86 [1]    
Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share, Granted (in dollars per share) $ 15.92 [1]   $ 15.92 [1]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period     7,955,032 [2],[3]    
Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share, Exercised (in dollars per share) $ 10.91 [1]   $ 10.91 [1]    
Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share, Outstanding at End of Period (in dollars per share) $ 19.62 [1]   $ 19.62 [1]    
Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share, Exercisable (in dollars per share) $ 20.09 [1]   $ 20.09 [1]    
Restricted Shares and Performance Shares          
Number of Shares Outstanding at Beginning of Period     14,271,158 [2],[3]    
Number of Shares Granted 5,997,010 [1]        
Number of Shares, Vested     (4,200,274) [2],[3]    
Number of Shares, Canceled (691,582) [1]        
Number of Shares Outstanding at End of Period 17,425,000 [2],[3]   17,425,000 [2],[3]    
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Outstanding at Beginning of Period (in dollars per share)     $ 20.62 [2],[3]    
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Granted (in dollars per share)     $ 15.98 [2],[3]    
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Vested (in dollars per share)     $ 21.92 [2],[3]    
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Canceled (in dollars per share) $ 20.09 [2],[3]   $ 20.09 [2],[3]    
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share, Outstanding at End of Period (in dollars per share) $ 18.21 [2],[3]   $ 18.21 [2],[3]    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price $ 21.40 [1]   $ 21.40 [1]    
Performance shares issued included in outstanding restricted shares 800,000   800,000    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period     (600,478) [2],[3]    
Share-based Compensation, Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other Than Options Nonvested Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Granted in 2010 $ 19.27   $ 19.27    
Market Value of Restricted Stock Vesting     68,200,000 84,800,000  
Employee Stock Purchase Plans
          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Employee stock purchase plan, percentage of market price for purchase of Staples common shares (as a percent) 85.00%   85.00%    
Employee stock purchase plan, maximum percentage of annual compensation allowed for purchase (as a percent) 10.00%   10.00%    
Nonqualified Stock Options
          
Stock Options          
Aggregate intrinsic value, outstanding nonqualified stock options 27,200,000   27,200,000    
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable nonqualified stock options 26,300,000   26,300,000    
Restricted Shares and Performance Shares          
Aggregate intrinsic value, exercisable nonqualified stock options $ 26,300,000   $ 26,300,000    
[1] At July 30, 2011, the aggregate intrinsic value of the outstanding nonqualified stock options was $27.2 million and the aggregate intrinsic value of the exercisable nonqualified stock options was $26.3 million. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the first half of 2011 and 2010 was $9.3 million and $13.4 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of the nonqualified stock options is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option.
[2] Restricted Shares do not include 0.8 million special performance and retention shares ("Performance Shares") which Staples granted to certain employees in 2010 with a fair market value of $19.27 per share. Performance Shares are awards under which restricted stock is only issued if the Company meets minimum performance targets. The fair value of Performance Shares is based upon the market price of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant.
[3] The total market value of Restricted Shares vesting during the first half of 2011 and 2010 was $68.2 million and $84.8 million, respectively.