2.2.0.25truefalse41503 - Disclosure - Note 15. Acquisitions, Investments and Disposals (Netto, Massmart Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxis} : Stores In South Africa [Member]
{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Massmart Holdings Ltd [Member]
11/29/2010
As_Of_11_29_20102http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2010-11-29T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseStores In South Africa [Member]us-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_StoresInSouthAfricaMemberus-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseMassmart Holdings Ltd [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_MassmartHoldingsLtdMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli02falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxis} : Stores in sub-Saharan African countries [Member]
{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Massmart Holdings Ltd [Member]
11/29/2010
As_Of_11_29_20103http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2010-11-29T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseStores in sub-Saharan African countries [Member]us-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_StoresInSubSaharanAfricanCountriesMemberus-gaap_EquityInterestIssuedOrIssuableByTypeAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseMassmart Holdings Ltd [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_MassmartHoldingsLtdMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli03falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Netto Food Stores Limited [Member]
4/30/2011
USD ($)
$As_Of_4_30_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2011-04-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNetto Food Stores Limited [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_NettoFoodStoresLimitedMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseGBPtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Netto Food Stores Limited [Member]
4/30/2011
GBP (£)
£As_Of_4_30_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2011-04-30T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNetto Food Stores Limited [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_NettoFoodStoresLimitedMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit14Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217GBPiso42170GBPGBP£5falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Netto Food Stores Limited [Member]
3/9/2011
As_Of_3_9_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2011-03-09T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNetto Food Stores Limited [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_NettoFoodStoresLimitedMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli06falsefalsetruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Netto Food Stores Limited [Member]
5/27/2010
As_Of_5_27_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2010-05-27T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNetto Food Stores Limited [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_NettoFoodStoresLimitedMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli07falsefalseZARtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Massmart Holdings Ltd [Member]
11/29/2010
ZAR
As_Of_11_29_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2010-11-29T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseMassmart Holdings Ltd [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_MassmartHoldingsLtdMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217ZARiso42170Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0ZARZAR8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Massmart Holdings Ltd [Member]
11/29/2010
USD ($)
$As_Of_11_29_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000104169instant2010-11-29T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseMassmart Holdings Ltd [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiwmt_MassmartHoldingsLtdMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$5false0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truetruefalse0.510.51falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truetruefalse0.510.51falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-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)
falsefalse7false0wmt_NumberOfStoresOperatedByEntitywmtfalsenainstantNumber of stores operated by entityfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalselabel1truefalsefalse288288falsefalsefalsetruefalse2truefalsefalse1313falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse193193falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNumber of stores operated by entityNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0wmt_AverageSquareFootageNettoStorewmtfalsenainstantAverage Square Footage Netto Storefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse80008000falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerAverage Square Footage Netto StoreNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePriceus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse12000000001200falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse778000000778falsetruefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse1700000000017000falsetruefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse23000000002300falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli: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
falsefalse10false0wmt_NumberOfStoresToBeDivestedUnderUkOftRequirementwmtfalsenainstantThe number of stores required to be divested under UK fair trade office requirements.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse4747falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerThe number of stores required to be divested under UK fair trade office requirements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse85Note 15. Acquisitions, Investments and Disposals (Netto, Massmart Narrative) (Details)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
