2.2.0.25truefalse41502 - Disclosure - Note 15. Acquisitions, Investments and Disposals (D&S Narrative) (Details)truefalsefalse1falsefalsefalsefalse3/1/2009 - 3/31/2009 Duration_3_1_2009_To_3_31_20092http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2009-03-01T00:00:002009-03-31T00:00:002falsefalseUSDfalsefalse2/1/2009 - 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$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : D & S [Member] 3/1/2009 - 3/31/2009 USD ($) $Duration_3_1_2009_To_3_31_2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2009-03-01T00:00:002009-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseD & S [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DAndSMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : D & S [Member] 2/1/2010 - 1/31/2011 Duration_2_1_2010_To_1_31_2011248http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169duration2010-02-01T00:00:002011-01-31T00:00:00falsefalseD & S [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DAndSMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli05falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : D & S [Member] 1/31/2009 USD ($) $As_Of_1_31_20095http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2009-01-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseD & S [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_DAndSMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truetruefalse0.5820.582falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 159 -Paragraph 18 -Subparagraph f Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 18 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph a (1) falsefalse3false0wmt_NumberOfStoresOperatedByEntitywmtfalsenainstantNumber of stores operated by entityfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse197197falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNumber of stores operated by entityNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0wmt_ShoppingCentersOperatedByEntitywmtfalsenainstantShopping centers operated by entityfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse1010falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerShopping centers operated by entityNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0wmt_PrestoFinancialServicesBranchesOperatedByEntitywmtfalsenainstantPRESTO financial services branches operated by entityfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse8585falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerPRESTO financial services branches operated by entityNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePriceus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse15500000001550000000falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d falsefalse7false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationAssetsAcquiredus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse22500000002250000000falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to assets acquired.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph g falsefalse8false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmountus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse14000000001400000000falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 52 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 53 -Subparagraph d falsefalse9false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationLiabilitiesAssumedus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse17000000001700000000falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of acquisition cost of a business combination allocated to liabilities assumed.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 37 -Subparagraph g Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) -Number 98-1 falsefalse10false0wmt_AcquisitionOfRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestwmtfalsedebitinstantAcquisition of redeemable noncontrolling interestfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse395000000395000000falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAcquisition of redeemable noncontrolling interestNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0us-gaap_ProceedsFromPaymentsToMinorityShareholdersus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-436000000-436000000[1]falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-436000000-436000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe net cash inflow (outflow) from noncontrolled interest to increase or decrease the number of shares they have in the entity. This does not include dividends paid to the noncontrolling interest.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 18 falsefalse12false0wmt_OwnershipStakeInDSOnCompletionOfTenderOfferwmtfalsenainstantOwnership stake in D&S on completion of tender offerfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.7460.746falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureOwnership stake in D&S on completion of tender offerNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0wmt_AcquisitionOfPortionOfRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestwmtfalsedebitinstantAcquisition of portion of the redeemable noncontrolling interestfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse148000000148000000falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAcquisition of portion of the redeemable noncontrolling interestNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse14false0wmt_ReductionOfWalmartShareholdersEquitywmtfalsedebitinstantReduction Of Walmart shareholders Equityfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse288000000288000000falsetruefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryReduction Of Walmart shareholders EquityNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse15false0wmt_OptionExercisePeriodwmtfalsenadurationOption Exercise Periodfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00January 2016January 2016falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:periodStringItemTypenormalizedstringOption Exercise PeriodNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse16false0wmt_PutOptionRequiringToPurchaseSharesOfFormerControllingShareholderswmtfalsenadurationPut option requiring to purchase shares of former controlling shareholdersfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truetruefalse0.2510.251falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurePut option requiring to purchase shares of former controlling shareholdersNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse1As Adjusted515Note 15. Acquisitions, Investments and Disposals (D&S Narrative) (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue