Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Nov. 29, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Nov. 29, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013	Mar. 01, 2014
Fair Value Measurements
Carrying value of long-lived assets	$ 6,060us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets	$ 18,587us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets	$ 6,060us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets	$ 18,587us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
Fair value of long-lived assets	4,727rad_LongLivedAssetsFairValueDisclosure	13,386rad_LongLivedAssetsFairValueDisclosure	4,727rad_LongLivedAssetsFairValueDisclosure	13,386rad_LongLivedAssetsFairValueDisclosure
Impairment charges	1,050us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges	335us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges	1,333us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges	5,201us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
Non-financial assets measured on a non-recurring basis
Outstanding derivative financial instruments	0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedges		0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedges		0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedges
Nonrecurring basis \| Fair Value
Non-financial assets measured on a non-recurring basis
Fair value of Long-lived assets held for use	1,685	955	1,685	955
Fair value of Long-lived assets held for sale	3,042	12,431	3,042	12,431
Fair value of Total	4,727	13,386	4,727	13,386
Nonrecurring basis \| Level 1
Non-financial assets measured on a non-recurring basis
Carrying value of total long-term indebtedness	5,754,616		5,754,616
Estimated fair value of total long-term indebtedness	6,013,790		6,013,790
Nonrecurring basis \| Level 2
Non-financial assets measured on a non-recurring basis
Fair value of Long-lived assets held for sale	3,042	12,431	3,042	12,431
Fair value of Total	3,042	12,431	3,042	12,431
Nonrecurring basis \| Level 3
Non-financial assets measured on a non-recurring basis
Fair value of Long-lived assets held for use	1,685	955	1,685	955
Fair value of Total	$ 1,685	$ 955	$ 1,685	$ 955

Long-lived assets that are held for use in normal operations and not anticipated to be sold in less than one year.

No definition available.

Name:	rad_AssetsHeldForUseLongLivedFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	rad_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the fair value of long-lived assets that are either held-for-sale or held-for-use from normal operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rad_LongLivedAssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	rad_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of assets classified as held for sale.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36462937&loc=d3e19190-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

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 210.5-02.22)

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

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the asset arising from derivative instruments and hedging activities, which are expected to be converted into cash or otherwise disposed of within a year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueDisclosuresAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Long-lived assets other than financial instruments, long-term customer relationships of a financial institution, mortgage and other servicing rights, deferred policy acquisition costs, and deferred tax assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 280

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 41

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6534315&loc=d3e9038-108599

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoncurrentAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The charge against earnings resulting from the write down of long lived assets other than goodwill due to the difference between the carrying value and lower fair value.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis=us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: