v2.3.0.15

Commitments and Contingencies (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		1 Months Ended
	Jul. 23, 2008 EUR (€)	Jan. 30, 2010 Settlement of Litigation USD ($)
Loss contingencies
Payment upon Termination of Acquisition Agreement	€ 30
Charge recorded for settlement of class action lawsuit		$ 42.0
Number of current and former associates covered under settlement agreement		5,500

X

- Definition

This element represents the number of current and former associates covered in the settlement of a class action lawsuit.

+ Details

Name:	spls_LossContingencySettlementAgreementNumberOfAssociates
Namespace Prefix:	spls
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Payment upon Termination of Acquisition Agreement between Corporate Express and Corely/Lyreco that occured due to the Staples' acquisition of Corporate Express

+ Details

Name:	spls_PaymentUponTerminationOfAcquisitionAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	spls
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of loss pertaining to the specified contingency that was charged against earnings in the period, including the effects of revisions in previously reported estimates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 5

-Paragraph 9

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration