Debt Instrument, Debt Covenant Leverage Ratio

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount issued or borrowed under the credit facility during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jwn_LineOfCreditFacilityIssuancesOrBorrowingsDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	jwn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount that could have been borrowed under the terminated credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jwn_LineOfCreditFacilityTerminatedBorrowingCapacity
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity under short-term financing arrangements that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	jwn_TotalShortTermBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	jwn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the maturity date of the debt instrument including whether the debt matures serially and, if so, a brief description of the serial maturities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Debt And Credit Facilities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		9 Months Ended		2 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2013 Short-Term Borrowings [Member]	Nov. 02, 2013 Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Nov. 02, 2013 Commercial Paper [Member]	Apr. 06, 2013 Terminated Credit Facility [Member] Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Apr. 06, 2013 Terminated Credit Facility [Member] Series2007 Variable Funding Note Facility [Member]	Apr. 06, 2013 Terminated Credit Facility [Member] Nordstrom Federal Savings Bank Variable Funding Facility [Member]	Dec. 02, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Unsecured 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		November 2018
Current borrowing capacity		800					52
Issuances or borrowings during period		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0		$ 0
Debt covenant leverage ratio		4