2.2.0.25falsefalse40901 - Disclosure - Credit Agreement (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/31/2010 - 1/29/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $Duration_1_31_2010_To_1_29_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166126duration2010-01-31T00:00:002011-01-29T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit14Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$5false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInitiationDateus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00April 8, 2009April 8, 2009falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringReflects when the credit facility first became available, 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 falsefalseLine of credit facility, initiation date6false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse750000000750falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.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 falsefalseLine of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity7false0jcp_LineOfCreditFacilityTermInYearsjcpfalsenainstantLine Of Credit Facility Term In Yearsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse33falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerLine Of Credit Facility Term In YearsNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseLine of credit facility, term (years)8false0jcp_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantComplianceLeverageRatiojcpfalsenainstantLine Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Leverage Ratiofalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse002falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Leverage RatioNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseLeverage ratio at balance sheet date9false0jcp_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantComplianceFixedChargeCoverageRatiojcpfalsenainstantLine Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Fixed Charge Coverage Ratiofalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse003.8falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Fixed Charge Coverage RatioNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseFixed charge coverage ratio at balance sheet date10false0jcp_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantComplianceAssetCoverageRatiojcpfalsenainstantLine Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Asset Coverage Ratiofalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse0019falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Asset Coverage RatioNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseAsset coverage ratio at balance sheet date11false0jcp_TotalStandbyAndImportLettersOfCreditjcpfalsecreditinstantTotal standby and import letters of creditfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse172000000172falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal standby and import letters of creditNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseTotal standby and import letters of credit17Credit Agreement (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue