Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011		Jan. 29, 2011		Oct. 30, 2010		Jul. 31, 2010		May 01, 2010		Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010	Dec. 08, 2010 Sto warehouses
Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations [Line Items]
Number of A.J. Wright stores converted into T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or HomeGoods stores																	90
Number of A.J. Wright stores closed																	72
Number of A.J. Wright distribution centers closed																	2
Segment loss														$ (49,291,000)	$ (129,986,000)
Segment profit (loss)	475,314,000	406,487,000	348,338,000	265,951,000	[1]	334,414,000	[2]	372,309,000	[2]	304,984,000	[2]	331,434,000	[1],[2]	1,496,090,000	1,343,141,000	1,213,572,000
Increase (decrease) in reserve for lease obligations						(6,000,000)
Reduction in reserve for lease related obligations of former operations classified as discontinued operations															(6,000,000)
HomeGoods [Member]
Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations [Line Items]
Segment profit (loss)														234,445,000	186,535,000	137,525,000
Conversion costs														3,000,000
Marmaxx [Member]
Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations [Line Items]
Segment profit (loss)														2,073,430,000	1,875,951,000	1,588,452,000
Conversion costs														17,000,000
BJ's Wholesale Club [Member]
Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations [Line Items]
Number of leases on which company is liable														13
Bob's Stores [Member]
Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations [Line Items]
Number of leases on which company is liable														7
A.J. Wright [Member]
Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations [Line Items]
Conversion costs														20,000,000
Increase (decrease) in reserve for lease obligations														33,000,000
Severance and termination benefits related to consolidation															$ 20,000,000
Maximum [Member]
Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations [Line Items]
Former operations reserve to be paid, in years														5
Minimum [Member]
Dispositions And Reserves Related To Former Operations [Line Items]
Former operations reserve to be paid, in years														3

[1] First quarter of fiscal 2012 includes operating results of A.J. Wright. See Note C.

[2] The fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 net income includes a $4 million, net of income taxes of $2 million (immaterial per share impact), benefit from a reduction in TJX's reserve related to former businesses.