Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2015	Sep. 09, 2015
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Aug. 01, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	BOOKS A MILLION INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000891919
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-30
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,409,112