Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2013	Jun. 11, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	BOOKS A MILLION INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000891919
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	May 04, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-02
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,366,223