Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2013		Oct. 27, 2012		Jul. 28, 2012		Apr. 28, 2012		Jan. 28, 2012		Oct. 29, 2011		Jul. 30, 2011		Apr. 30, 2011		Feb. 02, 2013		Jan. 28, 2012		Jan. 29, 2011
Selected Quarterly Data [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 3,596		$ 2,713		$ 2,918		$ 2,535		$ 3,169		$ 2,383		$ 2,716		$ 2,229		$ 11,762		$ 10,497		$ 9,310
Same-store sales percentage change	6.30%	[1]	10.70%	[1]	4.50%	[1]	8.50%	[1]	7.10%	[1]	7.90%	[1]	7.30%	[1]	6.50%	[1]	7.30%	[1]	7.20%	[1]
Credit card revenues	106		95		91		94		97		95		94		94		386		380		390
Gross profit	1,357	[2]	983	[2]	1,039	[2]	951	[2]	1,196	[2]	872	[2]	993	[2]	844	[2]	4,330	[2]	3,905	[2]
Earnings before income taxes	456		239		250		240		379		209		290		241		1,185		1,119
Net earnings	284		146		156		149		236		127		175		145		735		683		613
Earnings per basic share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.43		$ 0.73		$ 0.76		$ 0.72		$ 1.13		$ 0.60		$ 0.81		$ 0.66		$ 3.62		$ 3.20		$ 2.80
Earnings per diluted share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.40		$ 0.71		$ 0.75		$ 0.70		$ 1.11		$ 0.59		$ 0.80		$ 0.65		$ 3.56		$ 3.14		$ 2.75
Retail
Selected Quarterly Data [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative expense	912		755		778		721		818		670		708		611		3,166		2,807		2,412
Credit
Selected Quarterly Data [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative expense	$ 53		$ 46		$ 62		$ 44		$ 58		$ 57		$ 59		$ 55		$ 205		$ 229		$ 273

[1] Same-store sales include sales from stores that have been open at least one full year at the beginning of the year. Fiscal year 2012 includes an extra week (the 53rd week) in the fourth quarter as a result of our 4-5-4 retail reporting calendar. The 53rd week is not included in same-store sales calculations. We also include sales from our Nordstrom online store in same-store sales because of the integration of our Nordstrom full-line stores and online store.

[2] Gross profit is calculated as net sales less cost of sales and related buying and occupancy costs (for all segments).