Quarterly Summary (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2011		Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011		Oct. 30, 2010		Jul. 31, 2010		May 01, 2010		Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Sales	$ 6,459,715,000	$ 6,569,927,000	$ 5,819,612,000	[1]	$ 6,172,938,000	$ 6,415,402,000	[2]	$ 6,537,676,000	[3]	$ 5,534,240,000	[4]	$ 6,057,795,000	[5]	$ 25,022,192,000	$ 24,545,113,000	$ 24,275,451,000
Gross Profit	1,732,274,000	1,832,781,000	1,540,380,000	[1]	1,636,393,000	1,720,644,000	[2]	1,803,748,000	[3]	1,462,708,000	[4]	1,619,055,000	[5]	6,741,828,000	6,606,155,000	6,473,903,000
Net income attributed to Staples, Inc.	283,593,000	326,380,000	176,438,000	[1]	198,245,000	274,742,000	[2]	288,680,000	[3]	129,756,000	[4]	188,770,000	[5]	984,656,000	881,948,000	738,671,000
Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.41	$ 0.47	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.28	$ 0.39	[2]	$ 0.40	[3]	$ 0.18	[4]	$ 0.26	[5]	$ 1.42	$ 1.23	$ 1.04
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.41	$ 0.47	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.28	$ 0.38	[2]	$ 0.40	[3]	$ 0.18	[4]	$ 0.26	[5]	$ 1.40	$ 1.21	$ 1.02
Tax Refund			20,800,000
Restructuring Charges, Net of Tax						$ 4,600,000		$ 5,600,000		$ 13,500,000		$ 13,100,000
Restructuring Charges Per Diluted Share						$ 0.01		$ 0.01		$ 0.02		$ 0.02

[1] Results of operation for this period include a $20.8 million tax benefit related to a refund due to Corporate Express from the Italian government that was previously deemed uncollectible, which was recorded as a discrete item.

[2] Results of operation for this period include a $4.6 million charge, net of taxes ($0.01 per diluted share) related to integration and restructuring costs.

[3] Results of operation for this period include a $5.6 million charge, net of taxes ($0.01 per diluted share) related to integration and restructuring costs.

[4] Results of operation for this period include a $13.5 million charge, net of taxes ($0.02 per diluted share) related to integration and restructuring costs.

[5] Results of operation for this period include a $13.1 million charge, net of taxes ($0.02 per diluted share) related to integration and restructuring costs.