Debt And Credit Facilities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		6 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	2 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2013 Short-Term Borrowings [Member]	Aug. 03, 2013 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Apr. 06, 2013 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Terminated Credit Facility [Member]	Aug. 03, 2013 Commercial Paper [Member]	Apr. 06, 2013 Series2007 Variable Funding Note Facility [Member] Terminated Credit Facility [Member]	Apr. 06, 2013 Nordstrom Federal Savings Bank Variable Funding Facility [Member] Terminated Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term borrowing capacity	$ 800
Borrowing capacity of terminated facility			600		200	100
Maturity date		March 2018	June 2016		January 2014
Current borrowing capacity		800
Issuances or borrowings during period		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 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 August 3, 2013, we were in compliance with this covenant.