Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Notes)	6 Months Ended
Jul. 29, 2017
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities From time to time, Staples uses derivative instruments to hedge certain financial exposures. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. The derivatives qualify for hedge accounting treatment if they are highly effective in offsetting the underlying exposures. All derivatives are recorded at fair value and the changes in fair value are immediately included in earnings if the derivatives do not qualify as effective hedges, or if a derivative has not been designated as a hedge for accounting purposes. The Company formally documents all hedging relationships for all derivatives, non-derivative hedges and the underlying hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions. There are no amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness. In the first quarter of 2017, the Company entered into foreign currency forwards with aggregate notional amounts of 170 million Canadian dollars that were designated as foreign currency hedges on Staples’ net investment in Canadian dollar denominated subsidiaries. In the second quarter of 2017, the Company settled forwards with a notional amount of 70 million Canadian dollars, realizing a gain of $1 million which was recorded as a foreign currency translation gain within other comprehensive income. For the forwards with a notional of 100 million Canadian dollars that remained outstanding at July 29, 2017, the Company recognized unrealized losses of $6 million and $5 million in the second quarter and first half of 2017, respectively, which were recorded as foreign currency translation losses within other comprehensive income. No amounts were included in the consolidated statements of income related to ineffectiveness associated with these net investment hedges. The forward agreements outstanding at July 29, 2017 are expected to be fully settled by September 2017. In the first quarter of 2017, the Company entered into foreign currency forwards with aggregate notional amounts of 70 million Australian dollars that were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Upon settlement of these forward agreements in May 2017, the Company recognized a realized gain of $1 million. The gain is included in Pretax loss of discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of income.

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

From time to time, Staples uses derivative instruments to hedge certain financial exposures. The Company does not use derivatives for speculative purposes. The derivatives qualify for hedge accounting treatment if they are highly effective in offsetting the underlying exposures. All derivatives are recorded at fair value and the changes in fair value are immediately included in earnings if the derivatives do not qualify as effective hedges, or if a derivative has not been designated as a hedge for accounting purposes. The Company formally documents all hedging relationships for all derivatives, non-derivative hedges and the underlying hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge transactions. There are no amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company entered into foreign currency forwards with aggregate notional amounts of 170 million Canadian dollars that were designated as foreign currency hedges on Staples’ net investment in Canadian dollar denominated subsidiaries. In the second quarter of 2017, the Company settled forwards with a notional amount of 70 million Canadian dollars, realizing a gain of $1 million which was recorded as a foreign currency translation gain within other comprehensive income. For the forwards with a notional of 100 million Canadian dollars that remained outstanding at July 29, 2017, the Company recognized unrealized losses of $6 million and $5 million in the second quarter and first half of 2017, respectively, which were recorded as foreign currency translation losses within other comprehensive income. No amounts were included in the consolidated statements of income related to ineffectiveness associated with these net investment hedges. The forward agreements outstanding at July 29, 2017 are expected to be fully settled by September 2017.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company entered into foreign currency forwards with aggregate notional amounts of 70 million Australian dollars that were not designated as hedges for accounting purposes. Upon settlement of these forward agreements in May 2017, the Company recognized a realized gain of $1 million. The gain is included in Pretax loss of discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of income.