v2.4.0.6
Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)
Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jul. 28, 2012
Jul. 30, 2011
Jul. 28, 2012
Jul. 30, 2011
Jan. 28, 2012
Jan. 29, 2011
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans     2.1 1.7    
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized $ 163,600,000   $ 163,600,000      
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Equity Instruments Other Than Options Performance Shares Excluded From Outstanding Restricted Shares Number 0.5   0.5      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 20.11 [1]      
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Tax     7,900,000 (7,500,000)    
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest 6,796,753,000 7,119,652,000 6,796,753,000 7,119,652,000 7,022,213,000 6,951,181,000
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc. 120,429,000 176,438,000 307,488,000 374,683,000    
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest (34,000) (138,000) (80,000) (701,000)    
Consolidated net income, including loss from the noncontrolling interests 120,395,000 176,300,000 307,408,000 373,982,000    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax     8,831,000 [2] (13,557,000)    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent       200,546,000    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest       206,000    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax     (203,813,000) 200,752,000    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax     112,426,000 561,177,000    
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised     24,259,000 31,559,000    
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition     63,130,000 81,470,000    
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs     (4,649,000)      
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash     148,545,000 140,643,000    
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation     179,000 942,000    
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method     271,993,000 365,203,000    
Stockholders' Equity, Other     267,000 831,000    
Parent [Member]
            
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest 6,789,705,000 7,112,676,000 6,789,705,000 7,112,676,000 7,015,151,000 6,943,710,000
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc.       374,683,000    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax     8,831,000 [2] (13,557,000)    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent     (203,879,000)      
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax     112,440,000 561,672,000    
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised     24,259,000 31,559,000    
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition     63,130,000 81,470,000    
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs     (4,649,000)      
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash     148,545,000 140,643,000    
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation     179,000 942,000    
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method     271,993,000 365,203,000    
Stockholders' Equity, Other     267,000 831,000    
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
            
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest 7,048,000 6,976,000 7,048,000 6,976,000 7,062,000 7,471,000
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest       (701,000)    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Arising During Period, Net of Tax     0 [2] 0    
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest     66,000      
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax     (14,000) (495,000)    
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised     0 0    
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition     0 0    
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs     0      
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash     0 0    
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation     0 0    
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method     0 0    
Stockholders' Equity, Other     $ 0 $ 0    
Performance Shares [Member]
            
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     $ 19.27      
[1] Restricted Shares do not include 0.5 million special performance and retention shares ("Performance Shares") which Staples granted to certain employees in 2010 with a fair market value of $19.27 per share. Performance Shares are awards under which restricted stock is issued only if the Company meets minimum performance targets. The fair value of Performance Shares is based upon the market price of the underlying common stock as of the date of grant.
[2] (1)Changes in the fair value of derivatives are net of a tax expense (benefit) of $7.9 million for the first half of 2012 and $(7.5) million for the first half of 2011, respectively.