Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	May 03, 2014	Jun. 12, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	May 03, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	BOOKS A MILLION INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000891919
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		14,864,815