Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2013	May 31, 2013 Common Stock	May 31, 2013 Class A Common Stock
Entity Registrant Name	BON TON STORES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000878079
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	May 04, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-01
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,535,012	2,951,490
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1