Investment Securities (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Aug. 27, 2011	Feb. 26, 2011
Investment securities disclosures
Long term - available-for-sale securities: Auction rate securities	$ 95.6	$ 103.9
Short term: Held-to-maturity securities	724.9	599.8
Long term - trading securities: Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets	18.1	17.6
Auction Rate Securities
Investment securities disclosures
Available-for-sale investment securities, at par value	97.3	112.9
Temporary valuation adjustment on available-for-sale investment securities	1.7	3.2
Minimum asset coverage ratio required (as a percent)	200.00%	200.00%
Long term - available-for-sale securities: Auction rate securities	95.6	103.9
Available-for-sale securities redeemed at par	15.6
U. S. Treasury Securities
Investment securities disclosures
Short term: Held-to-maturity securities	724.9	599.8
Long Term Trading Investment Securities
Investment securities disclosures
Long term - trading securities: Nonqualified deferred compensation plan assets	$ 18.1	$ 17.6

This element represents the par value of available-for-sale investment securities as of the balance sheet date.

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Namespace Prefix:	bbby
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the temporary valuation adjustment related to available-for-sale investment securities which is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income.

+ Details

Name:	bbby_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesTemporaryImpairmentAdjustmentAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	bbby
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the minimum asset coverage ratio that closed end municipal bond funds are required to maintain pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940.

+ Details

Name:	bbby_MinimumAssetsCoverageRatioToBeMaintainedByFunds
Namespace Prefix:	bbby
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading which are intended be sold more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer. Equity securities represent ownership interests or the right to acquire ownership interests in corporations and other legal entities which ownership interest is represented by shares of common or preferred stock (which is not mandatorily redeemable or redeemable at the option of the holder), convertible securities, stock rights, or stock warrants. Unrealized gains and losses related to Available-for-sale securities are excluded from earnings and reported in a separate component of shareholders' equity (other comprehensive income), unless the Available-for-sale Security is designated as a hedge or is determined to have had an other than temporary decline in fair value below its amortized cost basis. All or a portion of the unrealized holding gain or loss of an Available-for-sale Security that is designated as being hedged in a fair value hedge shall be recognized in earnings during the period of the hedge, as should other than temporary declines in fair value below costs basis.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 13, 17

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 86-40

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph b

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph c

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 16

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 133
-Paragraph 22

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquitySecuritiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of assets held under deferred compensation agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 17
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredCompensationPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This item represents investments in debt securities which are categorized as held-to-maturity and that have scheduled maturities within one year of the balance sheet date or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer; such investments are measured at amortized cost (carrying value). The held-to-maturity category is for those securities that the Entity has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Chapter 3
-Section A
-Paragraph 4, 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 17

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentHoldingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity securities classified as available-for-sale securities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 18

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 15

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph b

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesEquity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration