Guarantor subsidiaries (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Feb. 03, 2012	Jan. 28, 2011	Jan. 29, 2010	Jan. 30, 2009
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 126,126	$ 497,446	$ 222,076	$ 377,995
Merchandise inventories	2,009,206	1,765,433
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	139,742	104,946
Total current assets	2,275,074	2,367,825
Net property and equipment	1,794,960	1,524,575
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,235,954	1,256,922
Other assets, net	43,943	58,311
Total assets	9,688,520	9,546,222
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	590	1,157
Accounts payable	1,064,087	953,641
Accrued expenses and other	397,075	347,741
Income taxes payable	44,428	25,980
Deferred income taxes	3,722	36,854
Total current liabilities	1,509,902	1,365,373
Long-term obligations	2,617,891	3,287,070
Deferred income taxes	656,996	598,565
Other liabilities	229,149	231,582
Redeemable common stock	6,087	9,153
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	295,828	298,819
Additional paid-in capital	2,960,940	2,945,024
Retained earnings	1,416,918	830,932
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,191)	(20,296)
Total shareholders' equity	4,668,495	4,054,479	3,390,298	2,831,695
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	9,688,520	9,546,222
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,844	111,545	97,620	292,637
Income taxes receivable		13,529
Deferred income taxes	10,078	8,877
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	551,457	741,352
Total current assets	563,379	875,303
Net property and equipment	113,661	105,155
Goodwill	4,338,589	4,338,589
Other intangible assets, net	1,199,200	1,199,200
Other assets, net	6,575,574	5,337,522
Total assets	12,790,403	11,855,769
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	4,654,237	3,691,564
Accrued expenses and other	79,010	68,398
Income taxes payable	12,972	11,922
Total current liabilities	4,746,219	3,771,884
Long-term obligations	2,879,475	3,534,447
Deferred income taxes	435,791	417,874
Other liabilities	54,336	67,932
Redeemable common stock	6,087	9,153
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	295,828	298,819
Additional paid-in capital	2,960,940	2,945,024
Retained earnings	1,416,918	830,932
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,191)	(20,296)
Total shareholders' equity	4,668,495	4,054,479
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	12,790,403	11,855,769
GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	102,627	364,404	103,001	64,404
Merchandise inventories	2,009,206	1,765,433
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,685,263	3,698,117
Total current assets	6,797,096	5,827,954
Net property and equipment	1,681,072	1,419,133
Other intangible assets, net	36,754	57,722
Other assets, net	13,260	12,675
Total assets	8,528,182	7,317,484
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term obligations	590	1,157
Accounts payable	1,451,277	1,541,593
Accrued expenses and other	264,575	226,225
Income taxes payable	5,013	13,246
Deferred income taxes	35,529	52,556
Total current liabilities	1,756,984	1,834,777
Long-term obligations	3,340,075	3,000,877
Deferred income taxes	270,736	228,381
Other liabilities	33,156	27,250
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	23,855	23,855
Additional paid-in capital	431,253	431,253
Retained earnings	2,672,123	1,771,091
Total shareholders' equity	3,127,231	2,226,199
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	8,528,182	7,317,484
OTHER SUBSIDIARIES
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	21,655	21,497	21,455	20,954
Deferred income taxes	21,729	6,825
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,768	4,454
Total current assets	49,152	32,776
Net property and equipment	227	287
Deferred income taxes	49,531	47,690
Other assets, net	323,736	304,285
Total assets	422,646	385,038
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	52,362	50,824
Accrued expenses and other	62,447	61,755
Income taxes payable	26,443	14,341
Total current liabilities	141,252	126,920
Other liabilities	141,657	136,400
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	100	100
Additional paid-in capital	19,900	19,900
Retained earnings	119,737	101,718
Total shareholders' equity	139,737	121,718
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	422,646	385,038
ELIMINATIONS
Current assets:
Income taxes receivable		(13,529)
Deferred income taxes	(31,807)	(15,702)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(5,102,746)	(4,338,977)
Total current assets	(5,134,553)	(4,368,208)
Deferred income taxes	(49,531)	(47,690)
Other assets, net	(6,868,627)	(5,596,171)
Total assets	(12,052,711)	(10,012,069)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	(5,093,789)	(4,330,340)
Accrued expenses and other	(8,957)	(8,637)
Income taxes payable		(13,529)
Deferred income taxes	(31,807)	(15,702)
Total current liabilities	(5,134,553)	(4,368,208)
Long-term obligations	(3,601,659)	(3,248,254)
Deferred income taxes	(49,531)	(47,690)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock	(23,955)	(23,955)
Additional paid-in capital	(451,153)	(451,153)
Retained earnings	(2,791,860)	(1,872,809)
Total shareholders' equity	(3,266,968)	(2,347,917)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (12,052,711)	$ (10,012,069)