Guarantor Subsidiaries (Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 28, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,204,521	$ 1,264,149	$ 932,515	$ 1,461,257
Merchandise inventories, net	2,502,834	2,431,845
Other current assets	2,538,455	2,594,826
Total current assets	6,245,810	6,290,820
Net property, equipment and other assets	3,116,150	3,157,672
Goodwill	3,996,308	3,982,130
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	0	0
Total assets	13,358,268	13,430,622
Total current liabilities	3,907,243	4,074,278
Total long-term liabilities	2,355,754	2,334,131
Total stockholders' equity	7,095,271	7,022,213	7,274,039	6,951,181
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	13,358,268	13,430,622
Staples, Inc. (Parent Co.)
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	322,896	385,279	134,723	406,821
Merchandise inventories, net	0	0
Other current assets	544,092	68,608
Total current assets	866,988	453,887
Net property, equipment and other assets	666,580	671,787
Goodwill	1,646,265	1,644,728
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	5,963,120	5,951,426
Total assets	9,142,953	8,721,828
Total current liabilities	312,560	(13,544)
Total long-term liabilities	1,735,122	1,713,159
Total stockholders' equity	7,095,271	7,022,213
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	9,142,953	8,721,828
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	45,901	43,323	45,052	38,298
Merchandise inventories, net	1,461,041	1,437,074
Other current assets	813,543	1,188,378
Total current assets	2,320,485	2,668,775
Net property, equipment and other assets	1,138,242	1,165,840
Goodwill	156,303	156,303
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	7,201,826	6,935,956
Total assets	10,816,856	10,926,874
Total current liabilities	2,050,271	2,314,411
Total long-term liabilities	212,560	195,852
Total stockholders' equity	8,554,025	8,416,611
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	10,816,856	10,926,874
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
Cash and cash equivalents	835,724	835,547	752,740	1,016,138
Merchandise inventories, net	1,041,793	994,771
Other current assets	1,180,820	1,337,840
Total current assets	3,058,337	3,168,158
Net property, equipment and other assets	1,311,328	1,320,045
Goodwill	2,193,740	2,181,099
Investment in affiliates and intercompany, net	11,033,513	10,988,680
Total assets	17,596,918	17,657,982
Total current liabilities	1,544,412	1,773,411
Total long-term liabilities	408,072	425,120
Total stockholders' equity	15,644,434	15,459,451
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	17,596,918	17,657,982
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	(24,198,459)	(23,876,062)
Total assets	(24,198,459)	(23,876,062)
Total current liabilities	0	0
Total long-term liabilities	0	0
Total stockholders' equity	(24,198,459)	(23,876,062)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (24,198,459)	$ (23,876,062)