Debt And Credit Facilities (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
May 02, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowing capacity of terminated facility	800
Short-Term Borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term borrowing capacity	800
Terminated Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maturity date	March 2018
Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total short-term borrowing capacity	800
Maturity date	April 2020
Issuances or borrowings during period	0
Debt covenant leverage ratio	4
Commercial Paper [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Issuances or borrowings during period	0

Debt Instrument, Debt Covenant Leverage Ratio

No definition available.

Name:	jwn_DebtInstrumentDebtCovenantLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	jwn_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
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
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

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

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ 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_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=jwn_TerminatedCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: