Guarantor Subsidiaries (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	Oct. 29, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Jan. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,060,364	$ 1,461,257	$ 1,369,721	$ 1,415,819
Merchandise inventories, net	2,526,976	2,359,173
Other current assets	2,747,058	2,647,737
Total current assets	6,334,398	6,468,167
Net property, equipment and other assets	3,142,598	3,370,338
Goodwill	4,138,021	4,073,162
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	0	0
Total assets	13,615,017	13,911,667
Total current liabilities	4,205,459	4,293,593
Total long-term liabilities	2,229,561	2,666,893
Total stockholders' equity	7,179,997	6,951,181	6,782,765	6,854,940
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	13,615,017	13,911,667
Staples, Inc. (Parent Co.)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	297,198	406,821	680,879	581,095
Merchandise inventories, net	0	0
Other current assets	439,137	64,699
Total current assets	736,335	471,520
Net property, equipment and other assets	662,458	742,833
Goodwill	1,654,346	1,617,937
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	6,171,368	6,691,832
Total assets	9,224,507	9,524,122
Total current liabilities	357,159	875,100
Total long-term liabilities	1,687,351	1,697,841
Total stockholders' equity	7,179,997	6,951,181
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	9,224,507	9,524,122
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	44,612	38,298	44,271	54,324
Merchandise inventories, net	1,471,542	1,396,667
Other current assets	1,085,660	1,147,433
Total current assets	2,601,814	2,582,398
Net property, equipment and other assets	1,080,590	1,246,194
Goodwill	156,303	154,527
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	5,660,681	4,783,397
Total assets	9,499,388	8,766,516
Total current liabilities	2,134,585	1,454,741
Total long-term liabilities	183,249	562,027
Total stockholders' equity	7,181,554	6,749,748
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	9,499,388	8,766,516
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	718,554	1,016,138	644,571	780,400
Merchandise inventories, net	1,055,434	962,506
Other current assets	1,222,261	1,435,605
Total current assets	2,996,249	3,414,249
Net property, equipment and other assets	1,399,550	1,381,311
Goodwill	2,327,372	2,300,698
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	8,993,356	7,001,204
Total assets	15,716,527	14,097,462
Total current liabilities	1,713,715	1,963,752
Total long-term liabilities	358,961	407,025
Total stockholders' equity	13,643,851	11,726,685
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	15,716,527	14,097,462
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Merchandise inventories, net	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
Net property, equipment and other assets	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	(20,825,405)	(18,476,433)
Total assets	(20,825,405)	(18,476,433)
Total current liabilities	0	0
Total long-term liabilities	0	0
Total stockholders' equity	(20,825,405)	(18,476,433)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (20,825,405)	$ (18,476,433)