v2.3.0.15
Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended9 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2011
Oct. 30, 2010
Oct. 29, 2011
Oct. 30, 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 income326,330,000288,670,000700,312,000613,820,000
Other comprehensive income:    
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net  107,028,0008,300,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net  (2,657,000)[1](5,955,000)[1]
Comprehensive income  804,683,000616,165,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised  32,989,00043,868,000
Stock-based compensation  117,072,000109,209,000
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs  (3,591,000)(360,595,000)
Cash dividends paid  (209,604,000)(194,856,000)
Tax benefit on exercise of options  1,023,000 
Purchase of treasury stock, net  (512,496,000)(285,713,000)
Other  (1,260,000)(253,000)
Balance at the end of the Period7,179,997,0006,782,765,0007,179,997,0006,782,765,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, tax benefit5,300,0001,200,000(2,200,000)4,500,000
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  6,943,710,0006,771,886,000
Comprehensive income:    
Net income  701,063,000607,206,000
Other comprehensive income:    
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net  106,676,0006,404,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net  (2,657,000)[1](6,529,000)[1]
Comprehensive income  805,082,000607,081,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised  32,989,00043,868,000
Stock-based compensation  117,072,000109,209,000
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs  (3,591,000)(275,767,000)
Cash dividends paid  (209,604,000)(194,856,000)
Tax benefit on exercise of options  1,023,000 
Purchase of treasury stock, net  (512,496,000)(285,713,000)
Other  (1,260,000)(253,000)
Balance at the end of the Period7,172,925,0006,775,455,0007,172,925,0006,775,455,000
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  7,471,00083,054,000
Comprehensive income:    
Net income  (751,000)6,614,000
Other comprehensive income:    
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net  352,0001,896,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net  0[1]574,000[1]
Comprehensive income  (399,000)9,084,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised  00
Stock-based compensation  00
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs  0(84,828,000)
Cash dividends paid  00
Tax benefit on exercise of options  0 
Purchase of treasury stock, net  00
Other  00
Balance at the end of the Period$ 7,072,000$ 7,310,000$ 7,072,000$ 7,310,000
[1]Changes in the fair value of derivatives are net of a tax expense (benefit) of $5.3 million and $(2.2) million for the third quarter and year-to-date 2011, respectively, and net of a tax benefit of $1.2 million and $4.5 million for the third quarter and year-to-date 2010, respectively.