2.2.0.25truefalse41301 - Disclosure - Note 13. Commitments (Narrative) (Details)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse2/1/2011 - 1/31/2012
USD ($)
$Duration_2_1_2011_To_1_31_2012http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2011-02-01T00:00:002012-01-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit16Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
USD ($)
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$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse2/1/2009 - 1/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_2_1_2009_To_1_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2009-02-01T00:00:002010-01-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit16Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDfalsefalse2/1/2008 - 1/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_2_1_2008_To_1_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2008-02-01T00:00:002009-01-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit16Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpenseus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20000000002000000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse18000000001800000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse18000000001800000000falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 15
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph c
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-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 43
-Chapter 11
-Section C
-Paragraph 22
falsefalse4false0wmt_PotentialFutureLeaseCommitmentsForLandAndBuildingsNumberOfFutureLocationswmtfalsenadurationPotential Future Lease Commitments For Land And Buildings Number Of Future Locationsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse424424falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerPotential Future Lease Commitments For Land And Buildings Number Of Future LocationsNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseContingentRentalsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse109000000109000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, shall be excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph c
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 98-9
-Paragraph 17
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 13
-Paragraph 106, 122
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2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
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2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011
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