2.2.0.25truefalse40703 - Disclosure - Note 7. Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt (Schedule of Long-term Debt) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse2/1/2010 - 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$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Denominated U.S. Dollar [Member]
2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
Duration_2_1_2010_To_1_31_201163http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2010-02-01T00:00:002011-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseDenominated U.S. Dollar [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DenominatedUSDollarMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Denominated U.S. Dollar [Member]
2/1/2009 - 1/31/2010
Duration_2_1_2009_To_1_31_2010236http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2009-02-01T00:00:002010-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseDenominated U.S. Dollar [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DenominatedUSDollarMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Denominated Euro [Member]
2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
Duration_2_1_2010_To_1_31_20112473http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2010-02-01T00:00:002011-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseDenominated Euro [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DenominatedEuroMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Denominated Euro [Member]
2/1/2009 - 1/31/2010
Duration_2_1_2009_To_1_31_2010234http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2009-02-01T00:00:002010-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseDenominated Euro [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DenominatedEuroMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Denominated Sterling [Member]
2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
Duration_2_1_2010_To_1_31_201162http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2010-02-01T00:00:002011-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseDenominated Sterling [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DenominatedSterlingMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Denominated Sterling [Member]
2/1/2009 - 1/31/2010
Duration_2_1_2009_To_1_31_2010235http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2009-02-01T00:00:002010-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseDenominated Sterling [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DenominatedSterlingMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Denominated Yen [Member]
2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
Duration_2_1_2010_To_1_31_20117http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2010-02-01T00:00:002011-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseDenominated Yen [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DenominatedYenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$10falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis} : Denominated Yen [Member]
2/1/2009 - 1/31/2010
Duration_2_1_2009_To_1_31_2010237http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2009-02-01T00:00:002010-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseDenominated Yen [Member]us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DenominatedYenMemberus-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$2false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeStartus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">2012</font>2012falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00<font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">2012</font>2012falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00<font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">2013</font>2013falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00<font style="font-family: Times New Roman;" class="_mt" size="2">2012</font>2012falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringWhen presenting a range of maturity dates, the earliest date when the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid. May be presented in a variety of ways (for example: year only, month and year, day, month and year, and number of years).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4
falsefalse3false0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeEndus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse0020292029falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse0020412041falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse0020392039falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse0020212021falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringWhen presenting a range of maturity dates, the latest date when the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid. May be presented in a variety of ways (for example: year only, month and year, day, month and year, and number of years).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4
falsefalse4false0wmt_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateByFiscalYearwmtfalsenadurationDebt Instrument Maturity Date By Fiscal Yearfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse0020302030falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringDebt Instrument Maturity Date By Fiscal YearNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0wmt_UnsecuredDebtFixedwmtfalsecreditinstantUnsecured Debt 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:monetaryItemTypemonetaryUnsecured Debt FixedNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0wmt_UnsecuredDebtVariablewmtfalsecreditinstantUnsecured Debt Variablefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse500000000500falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse10000000001000falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse9truefalsefalse22420000002242falsefalsefalsetruefalse10truefalsefalse28100000002810falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryUnsecured Debt VariableNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0us-gaap_UnsecuredDebtus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.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:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 16
-Article 9
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Article 5
-Subsection 19, 20, 22
falsefalse8false0wmt_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRateFixedwmtfalsenadurationDebt Weighted Average Interest Rate Fixedfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.0470.047[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truetruefalse0.0520.052[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truetruefalse0.0490.049[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truetruefalse0.0490.049[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truetruefalse0.0520.052[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truetruefalse0.0520.052[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse9truetruefalse0.0150.015[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse10truetruefalse0.0170.017[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureDebt Weighted Average Interest Rate FixedNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0wmt_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRateVariablewmtfalsenadurationDebt Weighted Average Interest Rate Variablefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.050.05[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truetruefalse0.0560.056[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsetruefalse00 [1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsetruefalse00 [1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsetruefalse00 [1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsetruefalse00 [1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse9truetruefalse0.0110.011[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalse10truetruefalse0.0050.005[1]falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureDebt Weighted Average Interest Rate VariableNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0us-gaap_OtherLongTermDebtus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse15370000001537[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse14110000001411[2]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding both current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount as of the balance-sheet date of other forms of debt not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond 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, 20, 22
-Article 5
falsefalse11false0wmt_LongTermDebtCurrentAndNoncurrentwmtfalsecreditinstantLong Term Debt Current And Noncurrentfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4508000000045080falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3702100000037021falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLong Term Debt Current And NoncurrentNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-4655000000-4655falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-4050000000-4050[3]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal of the portions of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of long-term debt, which may include notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans, and commercial paper, which are scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 20
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19
-Article 5
falsefalse13false0us-gaap_InterestRateDerivativesAtFairValueNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse267000000267falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse260000000260falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFair value as of the balance sheet date of interest rate derivative assets, net of interest rate derivative liabilities, which includes all such derivative instruments in hedging and nonhedging relationships that are recognized on the balance sheet.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 107
-Paragraph 10
falsefalse14false0us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse4069200000040692falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3323100000033231[3]falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse9falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse10falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all long-term debt, which is debt initially having maturities due after one year from the balance sheet date or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, but excluding the portions thereof scheduled to be repaid within one year (current maturities) or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5
falsefalse1The average rate represents the weighted-average stated rate for each corresponding debt category, based on year-end balances and year-end local currency interest rates. Our interest costs are also impacted by certain derivative financial instruments described in Note 9. 2A portion of other debt includes secured debt in the amount of $303 million, which is collateralized by property with an aggregate carrying amount of approximately $1.1 billion. 3As Adjusted1013Note 7. Short-term Borrowings and Long-term Debt (Schedule of Long-term Debt) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
