Summary of Stock Option Activity (Parenthetical) (Detail)	6 Months Ended
Jul. 29, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vested percentage	100.00%

Percent of share options (or share units) vested as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	wsm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	wsm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration