Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 29, 2016	Mar. 24, 2016	Jul. 31, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	LOWES COMPANIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000060667
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jan. 29, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-29
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 64.3
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		897,438,629