v2.4.0.6

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2012 CAD	Jan. 28, 2012 USD ($)	Jan. 08, 2003 USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Apr. 28, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Jan. 28, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 15, 2007 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest rate swap, January 2014 Notes [Member] USD ($)	May 01, 2010 Interest rate swap, January 2014 Notes [Member]	Mar. 16, 2010 Interest rate swap, January 2014 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 28, 2012 Interest Rate Swap [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest Rate Swap, October 2012 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] CAD	Sep. 01, 2012 Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] EUR (€)	Jul. 28, 2012 Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member] AUD	Jul. 28, 2012 Interest Rate Swap [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Intercompany Loans Entered into in December 2011 - CAD [Member] CAD	May 30, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member] USD ($)	May 04, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount of Interest Rate Derivatives																					$ 275,000,000
Interest Rate Cash Flow Hedge Liability at Fair Value														2,100,000
Derivative Termination Value, Liability Position	2,100,000		2,100,000
Derivative Instruments, Gain Recognized in Income																			900,000
Derivative Instruments, Loss Recognized in Income		300,000					6,200,000	(3,000,000)
Derivative Notional Amount Terminated							150,000,000	50,000,000
Notional Amount of Derivative Instruments Designated as Net Investment Hedges							100,000,000			300,000,000
Derivative Amount to be Received upon Maturity	720,000,000		720,000,000														115,000,000
Derivative Amount to be Paid upon Maturity				750,000,000												150,000,000
Notional Amount of Fair Value Hedge Instruments						325,000,000							750,000,000
Derivative, Cash Received on Hedge											30,300,000				12,400,000
Derivative, Type of Interest Rate Paid on Swap		variable rate										variable rate			variable rate
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																								7.00%
Investment Foreign Currency, Contract, Amount Purchased																				76,400,000
Fair Value Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Forward	(18,700,000)		(18,700,000)		(22,000,000)													7,100,000
Derivative, Gain on Derivative	16,600,000		3,200,000
Intercompany Loans																						750,000,000	75,000,000
Derivative Instruments in Hedges, Net Investment in Foreign Operations, Assets, Fair Value, Net							$ 2,700,000		$ 14,400,000

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

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column A

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The amount of a currency that the reporting entity is obligated to purchase at settlement.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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- Definition

The value at which the Company would have to settle its derivative obligation under the interest rate swap agreements in the event of a default on the underlying indebtedness or other provisionss. This value includes accrued interest, but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk.

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- Definition

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

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- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

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-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5



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- Definition

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

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- Definition

Increase in the fair value of the derivative or group of derivatives included in earnings in the period.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all interest rate derivative liabilities designated as cash flow hedging instruments.

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

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