EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Aug. 13, 2011	Aug. 14, 2010	Aug. 13, 2011	Aug. 14, 2010
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per basic common share	$ 279	$ 260	$ 708	$ 631
Average number of common shares used in basic calculation (in shares)	596	637	603	640
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per basic common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.41	$ 1.17	$ 0.99
Dilutive effect of stock options (in shares)	4	3	4	3
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per diluted common share	279	260	708	631
Average number of common shares used in diluted calculation (in shares)	600	640	607	643
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per diluted common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46	$ 0.41	$ 1.17	$ 0.98
Undistributed and distributed earnings to participating securities	$ 2	$ 2	$ 5	$ 5
Shares excluded from the earnings per share calculation due to anti-dilutive effect on earnings per share (in shares)	11	22	13	21

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The portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes and net of income allocated to participating securities, which is attributable to the parent. This amount is used for earnings per basic share calculations.

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The portion of consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, net of income allocated to participating securities, and net of adjustments resulting from the assumption that dilutive convertible securities were converted, options or warrants were exercised, or that other shares were issued upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, which is attributable to the parent. This amount is used for earnings per diluted share calculations.

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The amount of undistributed and distributed earnings to participating securities for the period.

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because to do so would increase EPS amounts or decrease loss per share amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
-Paragraph 13, 14

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
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-Article 9

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The amount of net income or loss for the period per each share of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during the reporting period.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 128
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Aggregate awards of share options and nonvested shares to be issued to an employee under a share-based compensation arrangement are considered options for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share. Such share-based awards shall be considered to be outstanding as of the grant date for purposes of computing diluted earnings per share even though their exercise may be contingent upon vesting. Those share-based awards are included in the diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) computation even if the employee may not receive (or be able to sell) the stock until some future date. Accordingly, all shares to be issued shall be included in computing diluted EPS if the effect is dilutive. The dilutive effect of share-based compensation arrangements shall be computed using the treasury stock method. If the equity share options or other equity instruments are outstanding for only part of a period, the shares issuable shall be weighted to reflect the portion of the period during which the equity instruments were outstanding.

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The average number of shares issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS, determined based on the timing of issuance of shares in the period.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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Number of [basic] shares, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares and other shares not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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