TAXES BASED ON INCOME (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2013	Nov. 03, 2012	Aug. 11, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012	Nov. 05, 2011	Aug. 13, 2011	May 19, 2012	May 21, 2011	Feb. 02, 2013	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011
Federal
Current									$ 563	$ 146	$ 697
Deferred									154	78	(136)
Total Federal									717	224	561
State and local
Current									46	42	95
Deferred									31	(19)	(55)
Total State and local									77	23	40
Total income tax provision	239	175	148	(221)	108	108	232	252	794	247	601
Reconciliation of statutory federal rate and effective rate
Statutory rate (as a percent)									35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit (as a percent)									2.20%	1.80%	1.50%
Credits (as a percent)									(1.40%)	(3.60%)	(1.30%)
Favorable resolution of issues (as a percent)									(0.50%)	(3.40%)	(0.80%)
Other changes, net (as a percent)									(0.80%)	(0.50%)	0.30%
Total (as a percent)									34.50%	29.30%	34.70%
Before-tax UFCW consolidated pension plan charge										953
After-tax UFCW consolidated pension plan charge										591
Current deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards	4			1					4	1
Compensation related costs	79			171					79	171
Total current deferred tax assets	83			172					83	172
Current deferred tax liabilities:
Insurance related costs	(116)			(111)					(116)	(111)
Inventory related costs	(234)			(220)					(234)	(220)
Other	(17)			(31)					(17)	(31)
Total current deferred tax liabilities	(367)			(362)					(367)	(362)
Current deferred taxes	(284)			(190)					(284)	(190)
Long-term deferred tax assets:
Compensation related costs	564			749					564	749
Lease accounting	87			93					87	93
Closed store reserves	56			66					56	66
Insurance related costs	77			76					77	76
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards	82			86					82	86
Other	2			23					2	23
Subtotal	868			1,093					868	1,093
Valuation allowance	(32)			(42)					(32)	(42)
Total long-term deferred tax assets	836			1,051					836	1,051
Long-term deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation	(1,636)			(1,698)					(1,636)	(1,698)
Long-term deferred taxes	(800)			(647)					(800)	(647)
State and Local Jurisdiction
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards for state income tax	1,275								1,275
State credits	$ 24								$ 24