QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED) - NARRATIVE (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				4 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2019	Nov. 10, 2018	Aug. 18, 2018	Feb. 03, 2018	May 26, 2018	May 20, 2017	Feb. 02, 2019	Feb. 03, 2018	Jan. 28, 2017
Quarterly Data
VRO charge, before-tax						$ 184
VRO charge, net of tax						117
Goodwill impairment charge							$ 0	$ 110	$ 0
Reduction to depreciation and amortization expenses net of tax, related to held for sale assets				$ 19	$ 14
Reduction to depreciation and amortization expenses net of tax, related to held for sale assets, net of tax				13	11
Gain on sale of business			$ 11		1,771		1,782
Gain on sale of business, net of tax			8		1,352
Mark to market gain (loss) on Ocado securities	$ 75	$ (100)	216		36		228
Mark to market gain (loss) on Ocado securities, net of tax	59	$ (77)	$ 164		27
Revaluation of contingent consideration	33						33
Revaluation of contingent consideration, net of tax	26
Impairment of financial instrument	42
Impairment of financial instrument, net of tax	33
Remeasurement of deferred taxes net benefit				922
Net earnings, due to a 53rd week in fiscal year 2017				119
Net earnings net of tax, due to a 53rd week in fiscal year 2017				79
Multi-employer pension funds
Quarterly Data
Charge (before-tax) related to pension plan agreements	168			351	13	199	155	550	111
Charge (after-tax) related to pension plan agreements	$ 131			234	$ 10	$ 126	$ 121	360	$ 71
Kroger Specialty Pharmacy
Quarterly Data
Goodwill impairment charge				110
Goodwill, Impairment Loss, Net of Tax				74
Pension Benefits | Qualified Plan
Quarterly Data
Settlement expense, before tax				502				502
Settlement expense, after tax				$ 335				$ 335