Note 20 - Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) - Quarterly Financial Results (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2020		Nov. 02, 2019		Aug. 03, 2019		May 04, 2019		Feb. 02, 2019		Nov. 03, 2018		Aug. 04, 2018		May 05, 2018		Feb. 01, 2020	Feb. 02, 2019	Feb. 03, 2018
Total net sales	$ 698,948		$ 792,375		$ 752,485		$ 677,754		$ 720,263		$ 775,829		$ 706,612		$ 632,142		$ 2,921,562	$ 2,834,846	$ 2,785,584
Gross profit	278,810		319,770		305,944		279,836		277,712		310,610		293,101		274,921		1,184,360	1,156,344	1,168,649
Net earnings (loss)	9	[1]	27,761	[1]	25,227	[1]	9,085	[1]	(75,427)	[1]	29,155	[1]	23,611	[1]	17,180	[1]	62,082	(5,481)	87,231
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. (1)	$ 408	[1]	$ 27,987	[1]	$ 25,341	[1]	$ 9,083	[1]	$ (75,452)	[1]	$ 29,153	[1]	$ 23,646	[1]	$ 17,212	[1]	$ 62,819	$ (5,441)	$ 87,200
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders (2) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	[2]	$ 0.69	[2]	$ 0.61	[2]	$ 0.22	[2]	$ (1.83)	[2]	$ 0.68	[2]	$ 0.55	[2]	$ 0.40	[2]	$ 1.53	$ (0.13)	$ 2.03
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders (2) (in dollars per share)	0.01	[2]	0.69	[2]	0.61	[2]	0.22	[2]	(1.83)	[2]	0.67	[2]	0.55	[2]	0.40	[2]	1.53	(0.13)	$ 2.02
Minimum [Member]
High (in dollars per share)	24.39		22.50		22.52		30.66		37.82		41.09		37.06		36.00		24.39	37.82
Maximum [Member]
High (in dollars per share)	$ 19.48		$ 18.29		$ 17.53		$ 25.24		$ 26.63		$ 31.84		$ 32.18		$ 27.10		$ 19.48	$ 26.63

[1] The fourth quarter of 2019 reflects expense containment initiatives of $11.2 million on an after-tax basis and costs associated with the repositioning of the Via Spiga brand of $1.2 million on an after-tax basis, both of which are further described in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, as well as the fair value adjustment to the Blowfish purchase obligation of $1.1 million on an after-tax basis, as further described in Note 2 and Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

[2] EPS for the quarters may not sum to the annual amount as each period is computed on a discrete period basis.