Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	May 02, 2020	Jul. 10, 2020
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	May 02, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	STEIN MART INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000884940
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-30
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	SMRT
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		48,513,878
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false