Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	May 02, 2015	May 29, 2015
Entity Registrant Name	BON TON STORES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000878079
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	May 02, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-30
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,996,099
Class A Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,951,490