v2.4.0.6

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)				3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended						1 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2012 USD ($)	Jan. 28, 2012 USD ($)	Jan. 08, 2003 USD ($)	Apr. 28, 2012 Interest Rate Swap, October 2012 Notes [Member]	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest Rate Swap, October 2012 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 28, 2012 Interest rate swap, January 2014 Notes [Member]	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest rate swap, January 2014 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Mar. 16, 2010 Interest rate swap, January 2014 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 28, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 01, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] CAD	Jan. 28, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 15, 2007 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 28, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, Re-designated October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Intercompany Loans Entered into in December 2011 - CAD [Member] CAD	Apr. 28, 2012 Short Term Debt October 2012 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2002 Short Term Debt October 2012 Notes [Member] USD ($)
Derivatives:
Notional Amount of Fair Value Hedge Instruments			$ 325,000,000					$ 750,000,000
Derivative, type of interest paid on swap				variable		variable
Derivative Instruments, Loss Recognized in Income									3,000,000
Derivative notional amount, net investment hedge													300,000,000	250,000,000
Derivative, amount to be received upon maturity	720,000,000									300,000,000
Derivative, amount to be paid upon maturity											316,200,000
Derivative, fixed interest rate percentage to be received (as a percent)												5.28%
Derivative, fixed interest rate percentage to be paid (as a percent)												5.17%
Derivative Notional Amount Terminated									50,000,000
Net investment hedge derivative, at fair value									(16,600,000)			(14,400,000)
Debt and credit agreements
Debt instrument stated percentage (as a percent)																	7.375%
Outstanding debt
Total long-term debt	2,034,047,000	2,038,180,000														329,761,000	325,000,000
Derivative, Cash Received on Hedge					12,400,000		30,300,000
Intercompany Loans															750,000,000
Aggregate Fair Value Loss on Foreign Currency Forward	$ (35,400,000)	$ (22,000,000)

X

- Definition

When the derivative or group of derivatives presented is a swap, the type of interest rate (fixed, variable, stepped, etc.) paid on the swap.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeTypeOfInterestRatePaidOnSwap
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Aggregate Fair Value Loss on Foreign Currency Forward included in other long-term liabilities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spls_AggregateFairValueLossOnForeignCurrencyForward
Namespace Prefix:	spls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The amount to be paid upon maturity of the derivative agreement and the basis for the amount of interest payments the entity will be obligated to pay.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spls_DerivativeAmountToBePaidUponMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	spls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The amount entitled to be received upon maturity of the derivative agreement and the basis for the amount of interest payments the entity will receive.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spls_DerivativeAmountToBeReceivedUponMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	spls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the derivative contract, at which interest will be paid.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spls_DerivativeFixedInterestRatePayment
Namespace Prefix:	spls_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the derivative contract, at which interest will be received.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spls_DerivativeFixedInterestRateReceipt
Namespace Prefix:	spls_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of all derivatives designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation that was terminated. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spls_DerivativeNotionalAmountTerminated
Namespace Prefix:	spls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Loan in which both the lender and the borrower are business units within Staples, Inc.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spls_IntercompanyLoans
Namespace Prefix:	spls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt and capital lease obligations, which includes both the current and the noncurrent portions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	spls_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrentAndNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	spls_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of cash received during the period on settlement of a hedge.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeCashReceivedOnHedge
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentDetailAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of loss recognized in income during the period on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in fair value hedges and related hedged items designated and qualifying in fair value hedges, on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges, and on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 205G

-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 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4A

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5618551-113959



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (a),(c),(d),(e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5624171-113959



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44C

-Subparagraph b

-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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsLossRecognizedInIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Net fair value of all derivatives designated as hedges of net investment in foreign operations.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FIN39-1

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph a

-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 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 133

-Paragraph 44C

-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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NetInvestmentHedgeDerivativesAtFairValueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of all derivatives designated as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5580258-113959



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6935481&loc=SL5579245-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfDerivativeInstrumentsDesignatedAsNetInvestmentHedges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of all derivatives designated as a fair value hedging instrument. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfFairValueHedgeInstruments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant