Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Cover
- Document and Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)

v3.8.0.1

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 28, 2017 USD ($)
Number of states in which entity operates	44
Maximum number of merchandise vendors providing advertising allowances	980
Number of years analyzed for gift card redemption patterns	3
Maximum [Member]
Vendor allowance terms (in years)	1
Buildings and Building Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Estimated useful life in years, minimum	15 years
Buildings and Building Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Estimated useful life in years, minimum	50 years
Fixtures and Equipment [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Estimated useful life in years, minimum	3 years
Fixtures and Equipment [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Estimated useful life in years, minimum	15 years
Software and Software Development [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Estimated useful life in years, minimum	3 years
Software and Software Development [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Estimated useful life in years, minimum	5 years
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Credit card sales transactions settled early	$ 102	$ 119

- Definition

Maximum Number Of Merchandise Vendors Providing Advertising Allowances

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	m_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Years In Analyzed Gift Card Redemption Data

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	m_NumberOfYearsInAnalyzedGiftCardRedemptionData
Namespace Prefix:	m_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Vendor Allowance Terms In Years

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	m_VendorAllowanceTermsInYears
Namespace Prefix:	m_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amounts receivable from issuing a card to individuals or businesses that allows someone to make a purchase on borrowed money.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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