Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012		Oct. 29, 2011		Jul. 30, 2011		Apr. 30, 2011		Jan. 29, 2011		Oct. 30, 2010		Jul. 31, 2010		May 01, 2010		Jan. 28, 2012		Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 3,515	[1]	$ 2,174	[2]	$ 2,458	[3]	$ 2,217	[4]	$ 3,456	[5]	$ 1,983		$ 2,242	[6]	$ 1,932	[7]	$ 10,364		$ 9,613	$ 8,632
Gross Profit	1,528	[1]	785	[2]	902	[3]	842	[4]	1,445	[5]	714		778	[6]	694	[7]	4,057		3,631	3,028
Operating Income	641	[1]	186	[2]	194	[3]	217	[4]	714	[5]	149		236	[6]	185	[7]	1,238	[8]	1,284	868	[8]
Income Before Income Taxes	580	[1]	122	[2]	276	[3]	249	[4]	719	[5]	101		244	[6]	187	[7]
Net Income Attributable to Limited Brands, Inc.	$ 360	[1]	$ 94	[2]	$ 231	[3]	$ 165	[4]	$ 453	[5]	$ 61		$ 178	[6]	$ 113	[7]	$ 850		$ 805	$ 448
Net Income Attributable to Limited Brands, Inc. Per Basic Share	$ 1.21	[1],[9]	$ 0.32	[2],[9]	$ 0.76	[3],[9]	$ 0.52	[4],[9]	$ 1.41	[5],[9]	$ 0.19	[9]	$ 0.55	[6],[9]	$ 0.35	[7],[9]
Net Income Attributed to Limited Brands, Inc. Per Diluted Share	$ 1.17	[1],[9]	$ 0.31	[2],[9]	$ 0.73	[3],[9]	$ 0.50	[4],[9]	$ 1.36	[5],[9]	$ 0.18	[9]	$ 0.54	[6],[9]	$ 0.34	[7],[9]

[1] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax charge of $232 million related to the impairment of La Senza goodwill and other intangible assets;(ii)A pre-tax gain of $111 million related to the sale of 51% of the third-party apparel sourcing business;(iii)A pre-tax expense of $24 million relating to restructuring expenses at La Senza; and(iv)A tax benefit of $28 million related to certain discrete income tax matters.

[2] Includes the effect of a tax benefit of $17 million related to the favorable resolution of certain discrete income tax matters.

[3] Includes the effect of a non-taxable gain of $147 million and pre-tax expense of $113 million associated with the charitable contribution of Express, Inc. common stock to The Limited Brands Foundation.

[4] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax gain of $86 million related to the sale of shares of Express, Inc. common stock;(ii)A pre-tax expense of $50 million related to a pledge to The Limited Brands Foundation; and(iii)A tax benefit of $11 million related to the favorable resolution of certain discrete income tax matters.

[5] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax gain of $45 million related to the sale of Express, Inc. common stock; and(ii)A pre-tax gain of $7 million related to a dividend payment from Express, Inc.

[6] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax gain of $52 million related to the initial public offering of Express, Inc. including the sale of a portion of the company’s shares;(ii)A pre-tax loss of $25 million associated with the early retirement of portions of the 2012 and 2014 notes; and(iii)A pre-tax gain of $20 million associated with the sale of the remaining 25% ownership interest in Limited Stores.

[7] Includes the effect of a pre-tax gain of $49 million related to a $57 million cash distribution from Express.

[8] Operating Loss for the Other segment includes the effect of the following items:(i)In 2011, a $232 million impairment charge related to goodwill and other intangible assets for our La Senza business; a $111 million gain related to the divestiture of 51% of our third-party apparel sourcing business; $163 million of expense related to the charitable contribution of our remaining shares of Express, Inc. to The Limited Brands Foundation; and $24 million of restructuring expenses at La Senza. (ii)In 2009, a $9 million pre-tax gain, $14 million net of related tax benefits, associated with the reversal of an accrued contractual liability as a result of the divestiture of a joint venture.

[9] Due to changes in stock prices during the year and timing of issuances and repurchases of shares, the cumulative total of quarterly net income per share amounts may not equal the net income per share for the year.