v2.4.0.6

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Foreign Currency Swaps and Foreign Currency Fowards (Details) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				1 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 27, 2012 USD ($)	Oct. 27, 2012 Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] USD ($)	Nov. 01, 2012 Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] CAD	Nov. 01, 2012 Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] EUR (€)	Sep. 01, 2012 Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] CAD	Sep. 01, 2012 Foreign Exchange Forward [Member] EUR (€)	Oct. 27, 2012 Foreign Currency Forward - October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 01, 2012 Foreign Currency Forward - October 2012 [Member] CAD	Sep. 01, 2012 Foreign Currency Forward - October 2012 [Member] EUR (€)	Aug. 31, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member] AUD	Oct. 27, 2012 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] 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 ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Intercompany Loans Entered into in December 2011 - CAD [Member] CAD	Oct. 27, 2012 Intercompany Loans Entered into in December 2011 - CAD [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 27, 2012 Intercompany Loans Entered into in December 2011 - CAD [Member] CAD	Jul. 28, 2012 Intercompany Loans Entered into in December 2011 - CAD [Member] CAD	Jan. 28, 2012 Intercompany Loans Entered into in December 2011 - CAD [Member] USD ($)	May 30, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member] USD ($)	May 04, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Amount to be Received upon Maturity						€ 116		€ 115			€ 121									$ 720
Derivative Amount to be Paid upon Maturity					150		150			150												750
Derivative Instruments, Gain Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion				7.9
Aggregate Fair Value Gain on Foreign Currency Forward	0.5		0.5
Derivative Instruments, Loss Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion									6.7
Intercompany Loans																			750					75
Fair Value Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Forward																				(25.1)			(22.0)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net	6.3		3.1
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage																									6.65%
Investment Foreign Currency, Contract, Amount Purchased													76.4
Derivative Instruments, Gain Recognized in Income												0.9
Notional Amount of Derivative Instruments Designated as Net Investment Hedges																		300
Derivative Notional Amount Terminated														100	150	50					150
Derivative Instruments, Loss Recognized in Income		0.3												5.6	6.2	(3.0)				8.7
Derivative Instruments in Hedges, Net Investment in Foreign Operations, Assets, Fair Value, Net																	$ 14.4

X

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

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

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