Debt And Credit Facilities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 06, 2013	May 04, 2013
Short-Term Borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term borrowing capacity		$ 800
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current borrowing capacity		800
Maturity date		March 2018
Issuances or borrowings during period		0
Covenant terms		leverage ratio, defined as Adjusted Debt to Earnings before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization and Rent ("EBITDAR"), of less than four times
Debt covenant leverage ratio		4
Covenant compliance		As of May 4, 2013, we are in compliance with this covenant.
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Terminated Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity of terminated facility	600
Maturity date	June 2016
Issuances or borrowings during period	0
Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuances or borrowings during period		0
Series2007 Variable Funding Note Facility [Member] | Terminated Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity of terminated facility	200
Maturity date	January 2014
Issuances or borrowings during period		20
Outstanding borrowings at termination	0
Nordstrom Federal Savings Bank Variable Funding Facility [Member] | Terminated Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity of terminated facility	100
Issuances or borrowings during period	$ 0