Goodwill and trade names (Details 2) (Trade names, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Mar. 01, 2014	Mar. 02, 2013	Feb. 25, 2012
Changes in the carrying amount of trade names
Gross balance at the beginning of the period	$ 273,474	$ 271,877
Accumulated impairment charges at the beginning of the period	(31,534)	(16,001)
Total, net balance at the beginning of the period	241,940	255,876
Gross balance at the end of the period	273,824	273,474
Accumulated impairment charges at the end of the period	(31,534)	(31,534)
Total, net balance at the end of the period	242,290	241,940
Impairment charges		(15,533)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	350	1,597
Elfa
Changes in the carrying amount of trade names
Impairment charges	$ 0	$ (15,533)	$ (15,584)

Represents the accumulated amount of the impairment of a major indefinite-lived intangible asset class.

No definition available.

Name:	tcs_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillAccumulatedImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	tcs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the sum of gross carrying amounts before accumulated impairment as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tcs_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillGross
Namespace Prefix:	tcs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of impairment loss resulting from write-down of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16373-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsIndefinitelivedExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit, from foreign currency translation adjustments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTranslationAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration