Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Sep. 02, 2017	Aug. 27, 2016	Sep. 02, 2017	Aug. 27, 2016
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Revenues	$ 7,678,903	$ 8,029,806	$ 15,460,356	$ 16,213,987
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	5,891,900	6,113,063	11,914,319	12,402,944
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,734,306	1,778,247	3,495,596	3,571,494
Lease termination and impairment expenses	3,128	7,233	7,214	13,014
Interest expense	111,261	105,388	221,198	210,501
Walgreens Boots Alliance, merger termination fee	(325,000)		(325,000)
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net	(14,495)	174	(20,216)	1,230
Total costs and expenses	7,401,100	8,004,105	15,293,111	16,199,183
Income (loss) before income taxes	277,803	25,701	167,245	14,804
Income tax expense (benefit)	107,087	10,928	71,878	4,619
Net income	170,716	14,773	95,367	10,185
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	515	681	1,029	1,362
Comprehensive income	171,231	15,454	96,396	11,547
Reportable legal entity | Rite Aid Corporation (Parent Company Only)
Costs and expenses:
Interest expense	105,384	100,933	211,317	201,380
Walgreens Boots Alliance, merger termination fee	(325,000)		(325,000)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	48,900	(115,706)	18,316	(211,565)
Total costs and expenses	(170,716)	(14,773)	(95,367)	(10,185)
Income (loss) before income taxes	170,716	14,773	95,367	10,185
Net income	170,716	14,773	95,367	10,185
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	515	681	1,029	1,362
Comprehensive income	171,231	15,454	96,396	11,547
Reportable legal entity | Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Revenues	7,657,233	7,995,349	15,417,291	16,163,541
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	5,872,689	6,080,299	11,875,730	12,355,746
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,732,288	1,776,135	3,489,908	3,567,772
Lease termination and impairment expenses	3,128	7,233	7,214	13,014
Interest expense	5,889	4,447	9,855	9,114
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net	(14,495)	174	(20,216)	1,230
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	(456)	593	856	645
Total costs and expenses	7,599,043	7,868,881	15,363,347	15,947,521
Income (loss) before income taxes	58,190	126,468	53,944	216,020
Income tax expense (benefit)	107,090	10,762	72,260	4,455
Net income	(48,900)	115,706	(18,316)	211,565
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	515	681	1,029	1,362
Comprehensive income	(48,385)	116,387	(17,287)	212,927
Reportable legal entity | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Revenues	41,877	60,581	81,327	119,109
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	39,961	57,767	77,863	113,613
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,475	3,233	4,676	5,970
Interest expense	(12)	8	26	7
Total costs and expenses	41,424	61,008	82,565	119,590
Income (loss) before income taxes	453	(427)	(1,238)	(481)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(3)	166	(382)	164
Net income	456	(593)	(856)	(645)
Comprehensive income	456	(593)	(856)	(645)
Eliminations
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Revenues	(20,207)	(26,124)	(38,262)	(68,663)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	(20,750)	(25,003)	(39,274)	(66,415)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	543	(1,121)	1,012	(2,248)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	(48,444)	115,113	(19,172)	210,920
Total costs and expenses	(68,651)	88,989	(57,434)	142,257
Income (loss) before income taxes	48,444	(115,113)	19,172	(210,920)
Net income	48,444	(115,113)	19,172	(210,920)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(515)	(681)	(1,029)	(1,362)
Comprehensive income	$ 47,929	$ (115,794)	$ 18,143	$ (212,282)