Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2017	Mar. 22, 2017	Aug. 13, 2016
Document and Entity Information Abstract
Entity Registrant Name	KROGER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000056873
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 28, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 30.6
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		914,240,326
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY