2.2.0.25truefalse40701 - Disclosure - Note 7. Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt (Narrative) (Details)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_2_1_2010_To_1_31_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2010-02-01T00:00:002011-01-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit16Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$As_Of_1_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2010-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit16Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowingsus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10310000001031000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse523000000523000000[1]falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19
-Subparagraph a
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph 2, 3
-Article 9
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph a(1)
-Article 7
falsefalse3false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstandingus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1150000000011500000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5
falsefalse4false0wmt_NumberOfFinancialInstitutionsCommittingToLendFundsUnderLinesOfCreditwmtfalsenainstantNumber of financial institutions committing to lend funds under lines of creditfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truefalsefalse2828falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNumber of financial institutions committing to lend funds under lines of creditNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDescriptionus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00interest rates in some cases equal to the Company's one-year credit default swap mid-rate spread and is constricted between LIBOR plus <font class="_mt">10</font> basis and LIBOR plus <font class="_mt">75</font> basis pointsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDescription of the interest rate for the amounts borrowed under the credit facility, including the terms and the method for determining the interest rate (for example, fixed or variable, LIBOR plus a percentage, increasing rate, timing of interest rate resets, remarketing provisions).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_SecuredLongTermDebtus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse303000000303000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying value as of the balance sheet date of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer), excluding the current portion, if any. Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
falsefalse7false0wmt_CarryingValueOfPropertyCollateralizingLongTermDebtwmtfalsedebitinstantCarrying value of property collateralizing long-term debtfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truefalsefalse11000000001100000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying value of property collateralizing long-term debtNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.walmartstores.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurenote7shorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis} : Trade Letters of Credit [Member]
1/31/2011
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_2011112http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2011-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseTrade Letters of Credit [Member]us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_LetterOfCreditMemberus-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis} : Trade Letters of Credit [Member]
1/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_201021http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2010-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseTrade Letters of Credit [Member]us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_LetterOfCreditMemberus-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstandingus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse26000000002600000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse24000000002400000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5
falsefalse10false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.walmartstores.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurenote7shorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis} : Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
1/31/2011
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_2011113http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2011-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseStandby Letters of Credit [Member]us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_StandbyLettersOfCreditMemberus-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis} : Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
1/31/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_2010222http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2010-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseStandby Letters of Credit [Member]us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_StandbyLettersOfCreditMemberus-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstandingus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse20000000002000000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse24000000002400000000falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5
falsefalse12false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.walmartstores.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurenote7shorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_OptionIndexedToIssuersEquityTypeAxis} : Put Options [Member]
1/31/2011
USD ($)
$As_Of_1_31_201162http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2011-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalsePut Options [Member]us-gaap_OptionIndexedToIssuersEquityTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PutOptionMemberus-gaap_OptionIndexedToIssuersEquityTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmountus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse500000000500000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date before deducting unamortized discount or premiums (if any). May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)
-Number APB14-1
-Paragraph 31
-Subparagraph b
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 20
-Article 5
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 16
-Article 9
falsefalse14false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.walmartstores.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurenote7shorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse8falsefalsetruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Minimum [Member]
2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
Duration_2_1_2010_To_1_31_20112235http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2010-02-01T00:00:002011-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseMinimum [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_MinimumMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse15false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDateus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00June 2011falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringReflects when the credit facility terminates, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5
falsefalse16false0wmt_BasisPointOfInterestRateInAdditionToLiborwmtfalsenadurationBasis Point of Interest Rate in Addition to LIBORfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1010falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:positiveIntegerItemTypepositiveintegerBasis Point of Interest Rate in Addition to LIBORNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse17false0wmt_CommitmentFeeOnUndrawnAmountwmtfalsenadurationCommitment Fee on Undrawn Amountfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse2.52.5falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:decimalItemTypedecimalCommitment Fee on Undrawn AmountNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse18false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.walmartstores.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurenote7shorttermborrowingsandlongtermdebtnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse9falsefalsetruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Maximum [Member]
2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
Duration_2_1_2010_To_1_31_20112234http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2010-02-01T00:00:002011-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseMaximum [Member]dei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_MaximumMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse19false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDateus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00June 2012falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringReflects when the credit facility terminates, which may be presented in a variety of ways (year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5
falsefalse20false0wmt_BasisPointOfInterestRateInAdditionToLiborwmtfalsenadurationBasis Point of Interest Rate in Addition to LIBORfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse7575falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:positiveIntegerItemTypepositiveintegerBasis Point of Interest Rate in Addition to LIBORNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse21false0wmt_CommitmentFeeOnUndrawnAmountwmtfalsenadurationCommitment Fee on Undrawn Amountfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10.010.0falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:decimalItemTypedecimalCommitment Fee on Undrawn AmountNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse1As Adjusted220Note 7. Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
