Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 01, 2012 item	Jun. 02, 2012
Commitments and contingencies
Number of legal cases	15
Craig et al and Ibea
Commitments and contingencies
Number of current and former assistant store managers to whom notice has been sent	7,500
Number of current and former assistant store managers who joined the action	1,250
Legal reserves related to the estimated settlement payments		$ 20,900
Indergit
Commitments and contingencies
Number of legal cases	2
Number of current and former store managers to whom notice has been sent	7,000
Number of current and former store managers who joined the action	1,550

Represents the number of current and former assistant store managers who have joined the legal action.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	rad_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of current and former assistant store managers to whom notice has been sent.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rad_NumberOfCurrentAndFormerAssistantStoreManagersToWhomNoticeSent
Namespace Prefix:	rad_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of current and former store managers who have joined the legal action.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rad_NumberOfCurrentAndFormerStoreManagersJoinedToAction
Namespace Prefix:	rad_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of current and former store managers to whom notice has been sent.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rad_NumberOfCurrentAndFormerStoreManagersToWhomNoticeSent
Namespace Prefix:	rad_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of legal cases relating to its business or financial condition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rad_NumberOfLegalCases
Namespace Prefix:	rad_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate carrying amount of the estimated litigation liability for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6952336&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationReserve
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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