Deferred Lease Credits (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 02, 2013	Jan. 28, 2012
Amortized amounts over the life of related leases
Deferred lease credits	$ 550,527	$ 551,468
Amortized deferred lease credits	(343,076)	(327,399)
Total deferred lease credits, net	$ 207,451	$ 224,069

Gross payments received from landlords to wholly or partially offset store construction costs. The amounts, which are amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the respective lives of the related leases

No definition available.

Name:	anf_DeferredLeaseCreditsGross
Namespace Prefix:	anf_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant