1.0.0.3 false CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS of CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions false 1 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 false 2 $ false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 USDEPS Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 5 Cash flows from operating activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 Net income 4 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 24000000 24 false false 2 true true 237000000 237 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 (Income) from discontinued operations 4 us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -1000000 -1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 8 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: 4 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 9 Asset impairments, PVOL and other unit closing costs 5 jcp_BusinessExitCostsAssetImpairmentChargesOtherNoncashExpense jcp false debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 6000000 6 false false 2 false true 8000000 8 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 Depreciation and amortization 5 us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 241000000 241 false false 2 false true 225000000 225 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 Benefit plans expense/(income) 5 us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitExpense us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 157000000 157 false false 2 false true -58000000 -58 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 12 Stock-based compensation 5 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 20000000 20 false false 2 false true 24000000 24 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 Tax benefits from stock-based compensation 5 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationOperatingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 4000000 4 false false 2 false true 9000000 9 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Deferred taxes 5 us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 91000000 91 false false 2 false true 34000000 34 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 15 Change in cash from: 4 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 16 Inventory 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRetailRelatedInventories us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1000000 1 false false 2 false true -52000000 -52 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 Prepaid expenses and other assets 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 33000000 33 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 18 Merchandise accounts payable 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 108000000 108 false false 2 false true 5000000 5 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 Current income taxes payable 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -102000000 -102 false false 2 false true -37000000 -37 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 Accrued expenses and other 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -47000000 -47 false false 2 false true -84000000 -84 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 21 Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 503000000 503 false false 2 false true 343000000 343 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 22 Cash flows from investing activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 23 Capital expenditures 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -304000000 -304 false false 2 false true -496000000 -496 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 24 Net cash (used in) investing activities of continuing operations 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -304000000 -304 false false 2 false true -496000000 -496 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 25 Cash flows from financing activities: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 26 Payments of long-term debt, including capital leases 4 us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -113000000 -113 false false 2 false true -2000000 -2 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 Financing costs 4 us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -32000000 -32 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 Dividends paid, common 4 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -89000000 -89 false false 2 false true -134000000 -134 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 29 Proceeds from stock options exercised 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1000000 1 false false 2 false true 4000000 4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation 4 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 1000000 1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 Tax withholding payments reimbursed by restricted stock 4 jcp_TaxWithholdingPaymentsReimbursedByRestrictedStockFinancingActivities jcp false debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -2000000 -2 false false 2 false true -4000000 -4 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 32 Net cash (used in) financing activities of continuing operations 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -235000000 -235 false false 2 false true -135000000 -135 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 33 Cash flows from discontinued operations: 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInDiscontinuedOperationsAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 34 Operating cash flows 4 us-gaap_CashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -4000000 -4 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Investing cash flows 4 us-gaap_CashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -1000000 -1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 36 Financing cash flows 4 us-gaap_CashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesDiscontinuedOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 37 Total cash (paid for) discontinued operations 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInDiscontinuedOperations us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -4000000 -4 false false 2 false true -1000000 -1 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 38 Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -40000000 -40 false false 2 false true -289000000 -289 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 39 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 2352000000 2352 false false 2 false true 2532000000 2532 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 40 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 true true 2312000000 2312 false false 2 true true 2243000000 2243 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 2 36 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true