Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended								3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 AUD	Aug. 31, 2011 AUD	Jul. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jan. 29, 2011 USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Short Term Debt October 2012 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2011 Short Term Debt October 2012 Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jul. 30, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 May 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member]	Oct. 29, 2011 August 2011 Australian Intercompany Loan [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 October 2011 Canadian Intercompany Loan - CAD to USD [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 October 2011 Canadian Intercompany Loan - CAD to USD [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 October 2011 Canadian Intercompany Loan - CAD to USD [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 October 2011 Canadian Intercompany Loan - CAD to EUR [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 October 2011 Canadian Intercompany Loan - CAD to EUR [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 October 2011 Canadian Intercompany Loan - CAD to EUR [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest Rate Swap, October 2012 Notes USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest Rate Swap, October 2012 Notes	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest Rate Swap, Corporate Express Credit Facilities	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest rate swap, January 2014 Notes USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Interest rate swap, January 2014 Notes USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] CAD	Jan. 29, 2011 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Aug. 15, 2007 Foreign Currency Swap, October 2012 [Member] USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Foreign Currency Swaps USD ($)	Oct. 30, 2010 Foreign Currency Swaps USD ($)	Oct. 29, 2011 Foreign Currency Swaps USD ($)	Oct. 30, 2010 Foreign Currency Swaps USD ($)
Derivatives:
Market Value of Restricted Stock Vesting		$ 70,100,000	$ 85,000,000
Derivative notional amount, fair value hedge	325,000,000	325,000,000				325,000,000																750,000,000	750,000,000
Derivative, type of interest paid on swap																				variable	weighed average fixed interest rate		variable
Derivative Instruments, Loss Recognized in Income	300,000
Derivative notional amount, net investment hedge																											300,000,000
Derivative, amount to be received upon maturity																								300,000,000
Derivative, amount to be paid upon maturity																									316,200,000
Derivative, fixed interest rate percentage to be received (as a percent)																								5.28%	5.28%
Derivative, fixed interest rate percentage to be paid (as a percent)																								5.17%	5.17%
Net investment hedge derivative, at fair value																								16,300,000		11,000,000
Cash Flow Hedge Derivative Instrument Liabilities at Fair Value	4,500,000
Loss on derivative used in net investment hedge, net of tax																												10,900,000	(1,600,000)	(2,700,000)	(6,000,000)
Debt and credit agreements
Debt instrument stated percentage (as a percent)									7.375%		6.65%	6.65%	1.80%	1.80%		1.32%	1.32%
Outstanding debt
Total long-term debt	1,987,247,000	1,987,247,000					2,557,390,000	335,474,000	325,000,000
Derivative, Cash Received on Hedge																			12,400,000			30,300,000
Investment Foreign Currency, Contract, Amount Purchased				76,400,000	76,400,000										112,100,000			77,300,000
Deferred Gain (Loss) on Discontinuation of Fair Value Hedge													(6,900,000)	(6,900,000)		(1,200,000)	(1,200,000)
Intercompany Loans										75,000,000		75,000,000	118,300,000			79,500,000
Gain (Loss) on Fair Value Hedge Ineffectiveness, Net													0	0		0	0
Derivative Instruments, Gain Recognized in Income	$ 900,000