Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Financing (Narrative) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Financing (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Feb. 02, 2013
Apr. 28, 2012
Jan. 31, 2015
Feb. 01, 2014
Feb. 02, 2013
Extinguishment of debt $ 407us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount          
Long-term debt 8,219us-gaap_LongTermDebt     8,219us-gaap_LongTermDebt 7,171us-gaap_LongTermDebt  
Additional interest expense from early repurchase of debt   133us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt 4us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt 17us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt 0us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt 137us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Amount of outstanding debt repaid at maturity       453m_AmountOfOutstandingDebtRepaidAtMaturity 109m_AmountOfOutstandingDebtRepaidAtMaturity 914m_AmountOfOutstandingDebtRepaidAtMaturity
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity 1,500us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity     1,500us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity    
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity at Company's option 1,750us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity     1,750us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity    
Interest coverage ratio       9.68m_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantComplianceInterestCoverageRatio    
Leverage ratio       1.83m_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantComplianceLeverageRatio    
Minimum specified interest coverage ratio in credit agreement       3.25m_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsInterestCoverageRatio    
Maximum specified leverage ratio in credit agreement       3.75m_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatio    
Amount non-recurring cash charges may not exceed in credit agreement       400m_MaximumSpecifiedNonRecurringCashChargesInCreditAgreement    
Amount of indebtedness due prior to maturity that would result in default under credit agreements       150m_AmountOfIndebtednessDuePriorToMaturityWhichWouldResultInDefaultUnderCreditAgreements    
Cross Default Provision In Credit Agreement Floor       100m_CrossDefaultProvisionInCreditAgreementFloor    
Commercial paper 1,500m_CommercialPaperFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity     1,500m_CommercialPaperFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets pledged as collateral for debt security 37us-gaap_PledgedAssetsSeparatelyReportedOtherAssetsPledgedAsCollateralAtFairValue     37us-gaap_PledgedAssetsSeparatelyReportedOtherAssetsPledgedAsCollateralAtFairValue    
5.875% Senior Notes Due 2013 [Member]            
Extinguishment of debt       0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandThirteenMember 		0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandThirteenMember 		298us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandThirteenMember
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage   5.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandThirteenMember 		      5.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandThirteenMember
8.0% Senior Debentures Due 2012 [Member]            
Extinguishment of debt       0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwelveMember 		0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwelveMember 		173us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwelveMember
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage   8.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwelveMember 		      8.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwelveMember
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]            
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage 7.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		    7.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		   
Other Standby and Commercial Letters of Credit [Member]            
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 29us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_OtherStandbyAndCommercialLettersOfCreditMember 		    29us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_OtherStandbyAndCommercialLettersOfCreditMember 		34us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_OtherStandbyAndCommercialLettersOfCreditMember 		 
3.625% senior notes due 2024[Member] [Member] [Member]            
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt       500us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreepointsixtwofivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandtwentyfourMemberMemberMember 		   
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage 3.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreepointsixtwofivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandtwentyfourMemberMemberMember 		    3.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreepointsixtwofivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandtwentyfourMemberMemberMember 		   
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreepointsixtwofivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandtwentyfourMemberMemberMember 		    500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreepointsixtwofivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandtwentyfourMemberMemberMember 		0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreepointsixtwofivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandtwentyfourMemberMemberMember 		 
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]            
Extinguishment of debt       407us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		0us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		205us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		    0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		407us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		 
November 28, 2012 Debt Tender [Member]            
Extinguishment of debt           700us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_November282012DebtTenderMember
4.375% Senior notes due 2023 [Member]            
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt         400us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A4.375Seniornotesdue2023Member 		 
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage         4.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A4.375Seniornotesdue2023Member 		 
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A4.375Seniornotesdue2023Member 		    400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A4.375Seniornotesdue2023Member 		400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A4.375Seniornotesdue2023Member 		 
3.875% Senior notes due 2022 [Member]            
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 550us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember 		    550us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember 		550us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember 		 
5.125% Senior debentures due 2042 [Member]            
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointOneTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFortyTwoMember 		    250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointOneTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFortyTwoMember 		250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointOneTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFortyTwoMember 		 
2.875% Senior notes due 2023 [Member]            
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt           750us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A2875SeniorNotesDue2023Member
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage   2.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A2875SeniorNotesDue2023Member 		      2.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A2875SeniorNotesDue2023Member
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 750us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A2875SeniorNotesDue2023Member 		    750us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A2875SeniorNotesDue2023Member 		750us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A2875SeniorNotesDue2023Member 		 
4.3% Senior notes due 2043 [Member]            
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt           250us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A43SeniorNotesDue2043Member
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage   4.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A43SeniorNotesDue2043Member 		      4.30%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A43SeniorNotesDue2043Member
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A43SeniorNotesDue2043Member 		    250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A43SeniorNotesDue2043Member 		250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A43SeniorNotesDue2043Member 		 
8.0% Senior Debentures Due 2012 [Member]            
Extinguishment of debt           173us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwelveMember
4.5% senior notes due 2034[Member]            
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt       550us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FourpointfivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandthirtyfourMemberMemberMemberMember 		   
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage 4.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FourpointfivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandthirtyfourMemberMemberMemberMember 		    4.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FourpointfivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandthirtyfourMemberMemberMemberMember 		   
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 550us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FourpointfivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandthirtyfourMemberMemberMemberMember 		    550us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FourpointfivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandthirtyfourMemberMemberMemberMember 		0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FourpointfivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandthirtyfourMemberMemberMemberMember 		 
Minimum [Member] | November 28, 2012 Debt Tender [Member]            
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage   5.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_November282012DebtTenderMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember 		      5.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_November282012DebtTenderMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
Maximum [Member] | Financial Standby Letter of Credit [Member]            
Stand-by letter of credit facility amount outstanding 1m_StandByLetterOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FinancialStandbyLetterOfCreditMember 		    1m_StandByLetterOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_FinancialStandbyLetterOfCreditMember 		   
Maximum [Member] | November 28, 2012 Debt Tender [Member]            
Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage   7.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_November282012DebtTenderMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember 		      7.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_November282012DebtTenderMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
Carrying Amount            
Long-term debt 7,236us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		    7,236us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		6,684us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember 		 
Carrying Amount | November 28, 2012 Debt Tender [Member]            
Long-term debt   $ 706us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_November282012DebtTenderMember 		      $ 706us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementBasisAxis
= us-gaap_CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_November282012DebtTenderMember