Guarantor and Non-Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Statement of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2019	Jun. 01, 2019	Sep. 01, 2018	Jun. 02, 2018	Aug. 31, 2019	Sep. 01, 2018
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	$ 5,366,264		$ 5,421,362		$ 10,738,853	$ 10,809,852
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	4,221,825		4,260,211		8,467,691	8,479,952
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,135,530		1,153,991		2,298,182	2,306,618
Lease termination and impairment charges	1,471		39,609		1,949	49,468
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges			375,190			375,190
Interest expense	60,102		56,233		118,372	119,025
Loss on debt retirements, net						554
Gain on sale of assets, net	(1,587)		(4,965)		(4,299)	(10,824)
Total costs and expenses	5,417,341		5,880,269		10,881,895	11,319,983
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(51,077)		(458,907)		(143,042)	(510,131)
Income tax expense (benefit)	27,628		(106,559)		35,002	(116,056)
Net loss from continuing operations	(78,705)		(352,348)		(178,044)	(394,075)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(574)		(6,792)		(894)	249,351
Net loss	(79,279)	$ (99,659)	(359,140)	$ 214,416	(178,938)	(144,724)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	398		364		157	728
Comprehensive loss	(78,881)	$ (99,900)	(358,776)	$ 214,780	(178,781)	(143,996)
Reportable legal entity | Rite Aid Corporation (Parent Company Only)
Costs and expenses:
Interest expense	56,863		52,365		111,818	112,304
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	22,416		288,700		67,120	9,730
Total costs and expenses	79,279		341,065		178,938	122,034
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(79,279)		(341,065)		(178,938)	(122,034)
Net loss from continuing operations	(79,279)		(341,065)		(178,938)	(122,034)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations			(18,075)			(22,690)
Net loss	(79,279)		(359,140)		(178,938)	(144,724)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	398		364		157	728
Comprehensive loss	(78,881)		(358,776)		(178,781)	(143,996)
Reportable legal entity | Subsidiary Guarantors
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	5,268,112		5,347,051		10,549,436	10,668,075
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	4,131,064		4,193,129		8,293,206	8,351,757
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,129,058		1,147,491		2,285,284	2,292,321
Lease termination and impairment charges	1,471		39,609		1,949	49,468
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges			375,190			375,190
Interest expense	3,404		3,811		6,899	6,756
Loss on debt retirements, net						554
Gain on sale of assets, net	(1,587)		(4,965)		(4,299)	(10,824)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	(1,084)		(852)		(2,379)	633
Total costs and expenses	5,262,326		5,753,413		10,580,660	11,065,855
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	5,786		(406,362)		(31,224)	(397,780)
Income tax expense (benefit)	27,628		(106,379)		35,002	(116,009)
Net loss from continuing operations	(21,842)		(299,983)		(66,226)	(281,771)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(574)		11,283		(894)	272,041
Net loss	(22,416)		(288,700)		(67,120)	(9,730)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	415		364		157	728
Comprehensive loss	(22,001)		(288,336)		(66,963)	(9,002)
Reportable legal entity | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	103,167		101,900		207,588	197,485
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	95,679		94,470		192,462	183,502
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,569		6,701		13,092	14,698
Interest expense	(165)		57		(345)	(35)
Total costs and expenses	102,083		101,228		205,209	198,165
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	1,084		672		2,379	(680)
Income tax expense (benefit)			(180)			(47)
Net loss from continuing operations	1,084		852		2,379	(633)
Net loss	1,084		852		2,379	(633)
Comprehensive loss	1,084		852		2,379	(633)
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations
Revenues	(5,015)		(27,589)		(18,171)	(55,708)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues	(4,918)		(27,388)		(17,977)	(55,307)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(97)		(201)		(194)	(401)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	(21,332)		(287,848)		(64,741)	(10,363)
Total costs and expenses	(26,347)		(315,437)		(82,912)	(66,071)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	21,332		287,848		64,741	10,363
Net loss from continuing operations	21,332		287,848		64,741	10,363
Net loss	21,332		287,848		64,741	10,363
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(415)		(364)		(157)	(728)
Comprehensive loss	$ 20,917		$ 287,484		$ 64,584	$ 9,635