Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Nov. 03, 2012	Dec. 07, 2012
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	KROGER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000056873
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Nov. 03, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-02
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		518,433,851
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3