| Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block] |
The following table summarizes the activity year-to-date in 2012 related to nonqualified stock options and Restricted Shares: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Nonqualified Stock Options | | Restricted Shares (1) | | | Number of Shares | | Weighted Average Exercise Price per Share | | Number of Shares | | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share | Outstanding at January 28, 2012 | | 45,995,348 |
| | $ | 19.89 |
| | 16,799,262 |
| | $ | 18.13 |
| Granted | | 2,990,051 |
| | 12.79 |
| | 5,002,035 |
| | 12.99 |
| Exercised/Released | | (1,961,860 | ) | | 11.29 |
| | (5,324,926 | ) | | 19.98 |
| Canceled | | (4,008,438 | ) | | 19.45 |
| | (1,851,713 | ) | | 18.98 |
| Outstanding at October 27, 2012 | | 43,015,101 |
| | $ | 19.83 |
| | 14,624,658 |
| | $ | 15.59 |
| | | | | | | | | | Exercisable at October 27, 2012 | | 33,307,004 |
| | $ | 20.89 |
| | | | | Vested or expected to vest at October 27, 2012 | | 42,084,403 |
| | $ | 19.90 |
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| | (1) | Restricted Shares do not include 0.4 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. |
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