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Postretirement Benefits (Benefit Obligations And Funded Status) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Feb. 01, 2014
Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]    
Underfunded status at end of year $ (203)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan $ (168)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFundedStatusOfPlan
Change in benefit obligation [Member]    
Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]    
Benefit obligation at beginning of year 168us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
167us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
Participant service cost 3us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
4us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
Interest cost 8us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
7us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
Benefits paid (6)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
(5)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
Actuarial loss (gain) 36us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
(5)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
Plan amendment (6)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAmendments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAmendments
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
Benefit obligation at end of year 203us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
168us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInBenefitObligationMember
Change in plan assets [Member]    
Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Line Items]    
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInPlanAssetsMember
0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInPlanAssetsMember
Employer contribution 6us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInPlanAssetsMember
5us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInPlanAssetsMember
Benefits paid (6)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInPlanAssetsMember
(5)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInPlanAssetsMember
Fair value of plan assets at end of year $ 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInPlanAssetsMember
$ 0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
/ us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis
= jwn_ChangeInPlanAssetsMember