QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	4 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jan. 28, 2012	Nov. 05, 2011	Aug. 13, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011	Nov. 06, 2010	Aug. 14, 2010	Nov. 07, 2009	May 21, 2011	May 22, 2010	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED)
Sales	$ 21,406	$ 20,594	$ 20,913	$ 19,884	$ 18,667	$ 18,760		$ 27,461	$ 24,738	$ 90,374	$ 82,049	$ 76,609
Merchandise costs, including advertising, warehousing, and transportation, excluding items shown separately below	16,957	16,358	16,555	15,548	14,550	14,550		21,624	19,155	71,494	63,803	58,848
Operating, general and administrative	4,339	3,318	3,353	3,232	3,195	3,205		4,335	4,191	15,345	13,823	13,412
Rent	143	141	143	141	148	143		192	191	619	623	620
Depreciation and amortization	393	372	374	386	368	368		499	478	1,638	1,600	1,525
Goodwill impairment charge				18			1,113				18	1,113
Operating Profit	(426)	405	488	559	406	494		811	723	1,278	2,182	1,091
Interest expense	101	99	97	111	103	102		138	132	435	448	502
Earnings before income tax expense	(527)	306	391	448	303	392		673	591	843	1,734	589
Income tax expense (benefit)	(221)	108	108	165	96	124		252	216	247	601	532
Net earnings including noncontrolling interests	(306)	198	283	283	207	268		421	375	596	1,133	57
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1	2	2	5	5	6		(11)	1	(6)	17	(13)
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co.	$ (307)	$ 196	$ 281	$ 278	$ 202	$ 262		$ 432	$ 374	$ 602	$ 1,116	$ 70
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per basic common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.33	$ 0.47	$ 0.44	$ 0.32	$ 0.41		$ 0.71	$ 0.58	$ 1.01	$ 1.75	$ 0.11
Average number of common shares used in basic calculation (in shares)	565	583	596	627	633	637		608	641	590	635	647
Net earnings attributable to The Kroger Co. per diluted common share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.54)	$ 0.33	$ 0.46	$ 0.44	$ 0.32	$ 0.41		$ 0.70	$ 0.58	$ 1.01	$ 1.74	$ 0.11
Average number of common shares used in diluted calculation (in shares)	565	586	600	631	636	640		612	645	593	638	650
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.115	$ 0.115	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.105	$ 0.095		$ 0.105	$ 0.095	$ 0.44	$ 0.40	$ 0.37

The aggregate total of expenses of managing and administering the affairs of an entity, including affiliates of the reporting entity, which are not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line, excluding rental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.

No definition available.