v2.4.0.6

Stockholders' Equity (Tables) | 9 Months Ended
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Oct. 27, 2012
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] |
Schedule of Stockholders Equity [Table Text Block] | The following table reflects the changes in stockholders’ equity attributed to Staples, Inc. and its noncontrolling interests for year-to-date 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
| Attributable to Staples, Inc. |  | Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  | Total
Stockholders' equity at January 28, 2012 | $ | 7,015,151 |  |  | $ | 7,062 |  |  | $ | 7,022,213 |
Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated net loss | (288,762 | ) |  | (119 | ) |  | (288,881 | )
Other Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net | (68,839 | ) |  | 233 |  |  | (68,606 | )
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net (1) | 8,269 |  |  | — |  |  | 8,269 |
Comprehensive (loss) income | (349,332 | ) |  | 114 |  |  | (349,218 | )
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised | 26,039 |  |  | — |  |  | 26,039 |
Stock-based compensation | 90,406 |  |  | — |  |  | 90,406 |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | (5,651 | ) |  | — |  |  | (5,651 | )
Cash dividends paid | (221,682 | ) |  | — |  |  | (221,682 | )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements | 179 |  |  | — |  |  | 179 |
Purchase of treasury stock, net | (383,220 | ) |  | — |  |  | (383,220 | )
Other | (337 | ) |  | — |  |  | (337 | )
Stockholders' equity at October 27, 2012 | $ | 6,171,553 |  |  | $ | 7,176 |  |  | $ | 6,178,729 |
| Attributable to Staples, Inc. |  | Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  | Total
Stockholders' equity at January 29, 2011 | $ | 6,943,710 |  |  | $ | 7,471 |  |  | $ | 6,951,181 |
Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |
Consolidated net income | 701,063 |  |  | (751 | ) |  | 700,312 |
Other Comprehensive Income: |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net | 106,676 |  |  | 352 |  |  | 107,028 |
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net (1) | (2,657 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2,657 | )
Comprehensive Income | 805,082 |  |  | (399 | ) |  | 804,683 |
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised | 32,989 |  |  | — |  |  | 32,989 |
Stock-based compensation | 117,072 |  |  | — |  |  | 117,072 |
Purchase of noncontrolling interest | (3,591 | ) |  | — |  |  | (3,591 | )
Cash dividends paid | (209,604 | ) |  | — |  |  | (209,604 | )
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements | 1,023 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,023 |
Purchase of treasury stock, net | (512,496 | ) |  | — |  |  | (512,496 | )
Other | (1,260 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1,260 | )
Stockholders' equity at October 29, 2011 | $ | 7,172,925 |  |  | $ | 7,072 |  |  | $ | 7,179,997 |

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of changes in the separate accounts comprising stockholders' equity (in addition to retained earnings) and of the changes in the number of shares of equity securities during at least the most recent annual fiscal period and any subsequent interim period presented is required to make the financial statements sufficiently informative if both financial position and results of operations are presented. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 + Details
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