Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Oct. 29, 2011		Oct. 30, 2010
Changes in stockholders' equity and comprehensive income attributable to Staples, Inc. and its noncontrolling interests
Balance at the beginning of the period			$ 6,951,181,000		$ 6,854,940,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income	326,330,000	288,670,000	700,312,000		613,820,000
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net			107,028,000		8,300,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net			(2,657,000)	[1]	(5,955,000)	[1]
Comprehensive income			804,683,000		616,165,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised			32,989,000		43,868,000
Stock-based compensation			117,072,000		109,209,000
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs			(3,591,000)		(360,595,000)
Cash dividends paid			(209,604,000)		(194,856,000)
Tax benefit on exercise of options			1,023,000
Purchase of treasury stock, net			(512,496,000)		(285,713,000)
Other			(1,260,000)		(253,000)
Balance at the end of the Period	7,179,997,000	6,782,765,000	7,179,997,000		6,782,765,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, tax benefit	5,300,000	1,200,000	(2,200,000)		4,500,000
Attributable to Staples, Inc.
Changes in stockholders' equity and comprehensive income attributable to Staples, Inc. and its noncontrolling interests
Balance at the beginning of the period			6,943,710,000		6,771,886,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income			701,063,000		607,206,000
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net			106,676,000		6,404,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net			(2,657,000)	[1]	(6,529,000)	[1]
Comprehensive income			805,082,000		607,081,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised			32,989,000		43,868,000
Stock-based compensation			117,072,000		109,209,000
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs			(3,591,000)		(275,767,000)
Cash dividends paid			(209,604,000)		(194,856,000)
Tax benefit on exercise of options			1,023,000
Purchase of treasury stock, net			(512,496,000)		(285,713,000)
Other			(1,260,000)		(253,000)
Balance at the end of the Period	7,172,925,000	6,775,455,000	7,172,925,000		6,775,455,000
Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Changes in stockholders' equity and comprehensive income attributable to Staples, Inc. and its noncontrolling interests
Balance at the beginning of the period			7,471,000		83,054,000
Comprehensive income:
Net income			(751,000)		6,614,000
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net			352,000		1,896,000
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net			0	[1]	574,000	[1]
Comprehensive income			(399,000)		9,084,000
Issuance of common stock for stock options exercised			0		0
Stock-based compensation			0		0
Purchase of NonControlling Interest Including Accrued and Unpaid Transition Costs			0		(84,828,000)
Cash dividends paid			0		0
Tax benefit on exercise of options			0
Purchase of treasury stock, net			0		0
Other			0		0
Balance at the end of the Period	$ 7,072,000	$ 7,310,000	$ 7,072,000		$ 7,310,000

[1] Changes in the fair value of derivatives are net of a tax expense (benefit) of $5.3 million and $(2.2) million for the third quarter and year-to-date 2011, respectively, and net of a tax benefit of $1.2 million and $4.5 million for the third quarter and year-to-date 2010, respectively.