Document And Entity Information (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Aug. 02, 2014	Apr. 10, 2015
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	FREDS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000724571
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	FRED
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float		$ 339
Common stock, Class A voting
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			37,162,661
Common stock, Class B nonvoting
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			0