v2.3.0.11
Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jul. 30, 2011
Jul. 31, 2010
Jul. 30, 2011
Jul. 31, 2010
Changes in stockholders' equity and comprehensive income attributable to Staples, Inc. and its noncontrolling interests        
Balance at the beginning of the period     $ 6,951,181,000 $ 6,854,940,000
Comprehensive income:        
Net income 176,300,000 132,669,000 373,982,000 325,151,000
Other comprehensive income:        
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net     200,752,000 (207,669,000)
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net     (13,557,000) [1] (4,375,000) [1]
Comprehensive income     561,177,000 113,107,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised     31,559,000 38,443,000
Stock-based compensation     81,470,000 69,629,000
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs       (349,988,000)
Cash dividends paid     (140,643,000) (130,100,000)
Tax benefit on exercise of options     942,000  
Purchase of treasury stock, net     (365,203,000) (128,745,000)
Other     (831,000) (5,930,000)
Balance at the end of the Period 7,119,652,000 6,461,356,000 7,119,652,000 6,461,356,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, tax benefit 500,000 1,600,000 (7,500,000) (3,300,000)
Attributable to Staples, Inc.
        
Changes in stockholders' equity and comprehensive income attributable to Staples, Inc. and its noncontrolling interests        
Balance at the beginning of the period     6,943,710,000 6,771,886,000
Comprehensive income:        
Net income     374,683,000 318,526,000
Other comprehensive income:        
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net     200,546,000 (207,210,000)
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net     (13,557,000) [1] (4,807,000) [1]
Comprehensive income     561,672,000 106,509,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised     31,559,000 38,443,000
Stock-based compensation     81,470,000 69,629,000
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs       (271,001,000)
Cash dividends paid     (140,643,000) (130,100,000)
Tax benefit on exercise of options     942,000  
Purchase of treasury stock, net     (365,203,000) (128,745,000)
Other     (831,000) (5,930,000)
Balance at the end of the Period 7,112,676,000 6,450,691,000 7,112,676,000 6,450,691,000
Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
        
Changes in stockholders' equity and comprehensive income attributable to Staples, Inc. and its noncontrolling interests        
Balance at the beginning of the period     7,471,000 83,054,000
Comprehensive income:        
Net income     (701,000) 6,625,000
Other comprehensive income:        
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net     206,000 (459,000)
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net     0 [1] 432,000 [1]
Comprehensive income     (495,000) 6,598,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised     0 0
Stock-based compensation     0 0
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs       (78,987,000)
Cash dividends paid     0 0
Tax benefit on exercise of options     0  
Purchase of treasury stock, net     0 0
Other     0 0
Balance at the end of the Period $ 6,976,000 $ 10,665,000 $ 6,976,000 $ 10,665,000
[1] Changes in the fair value of derivatives are net of a tax expense (benefit) of $0.5 million and $(7.5) million for the second quarter and the first half of 2011, respectively, and net of a tax expense (benefit) of $1.6 million and $(3.3) million for the second quarter and the first half of 2010, respectively.