Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Nov. 04, 2017	Dec. 04, 2017
Document and Entity Information Abstract
Entity Registrant Name	KROGER CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000056873
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Nov. 04, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-03
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		881,361,794
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3