Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2013 payment state	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of states in which company operates	31
Development incentive deferred rent credit	$ 544	$ 556
Advertising expense, net of vendor allowances	161	128	114
Shipping and handling cost, excluding inbound freight	240	178	133
Period at which unused gift card balance redemptions are deemed remote, years	5 years
Gift card breakage income	10	9	9
Gift card breakage rate	3.00%
Outstanding gift card liability	231	209
Amount recognized in uncertain tax positions	cumulatively greater than 50%
Checks not yet presented for payment drawn in excess of bank deposit balances	86	81
Period until which deliquent accounts are written off	150 days
Period until which finance charges are recognized on delinquent accounts	120 days
Number of consecutive minimum payments allow, non-accrual accounts return to accrual status	3
Goodwill	175	175	53
Nordstrom [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	117
Nordstrom Rack [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	119
Jeffrey [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	2
treasure&bond [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	1
Last Chance [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Number of retail channels	1
HauteLook [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Goodwill	121
Goodwill impairment	0	25
Nordstrom.com and Jeffrey [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Goodwill	53
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Nature Of Retail Operations [Line Items]
Accumulated adjustments to the associated debt, amortized as a reduction of interest expense	$ 60	$ 72