2.2.0.7 false Credit Facility (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) 40401 - Disclosure - Credit Facility (Narrative) (Details) true false In Millions false false 1 USD false false Unit12 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Unit1 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Unit13 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 Unit14 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 $ 5 Line of credit facility, initiation date 3 us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInitiationDate us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 April 2009 April 2009 false false false us-types:dateStringItemType normalizedstring Reflects 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 false 6 Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity 3 us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 750000000 750 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Maximum 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 false 7 Line of credit facility, term (years) 3 jcp_LineOfCreditFacilityTermInYears jcp false na instant Line Of Credit Facility Term In Years false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false true false false 3 3 false false false xbrli:integerItemType integer Line Of Credit Facility Term In Years No authoritative reference available. false 8 Credit facility financial covenants 3 us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTerms us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 <div class="MetaData"><ul style="margin-top: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: black; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The leverage ratio, which is calculated as of the last day of the quarter and measured on a trailing four-quarter basis, cannot exceed 3.5 to 1 from January 31, 2010 through October 30, 2010 and 3.0 to 1 thereafter.   </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: black; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The fixed charge coverage ratio, which is calculated as of the last day of the quarter and measured on a trailing four-quarter basis, cannot be less than 2.25 to 1 through October 30, 2010, 2.5 to 1 from October 31, 2010 through October 29, 2011; and 3.0 to 1 thereafter.  </li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; color: black; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The asset coverage ratio, which is calculated as of the last day of each fiscal month, cannot be less than 3.0 to 1.</li></ul></div> The leverage ratio, which is calculated as of the last day of the quarter and measured on a trailing four-quarter basis, cannot exceed 3.5 to 1 from false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Description of the conditions for borrowing under the credit facility including the nature of any restrictions. 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 false 9 Leverage ratio at balance sheet date 3 jcp_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantComplianceLeverageRatio jcp false na instant Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Leverage Ratio false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 2.0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Leverage Ratio No authoritative reference available. false 10 Fixed charge coverage ratio at balance sheet date 3 jcp_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantComplianceFixedChargeCoverageRatio jcp false na instant Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 3.6 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio No authoritative reference available. false 11 Asset coverage ratio at balance sheet date 3 jcp_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantComplianceAssetCoverageRatio jcp false na instant Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Asset Coverage Ratio false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 23 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Compliance Asset Coverage Ratio No authoritative reference available. false 12 Total standby and import letters of credit 3 jcp_TotalStandbyAndImportLettersOfCredit jcp false credit instant Total standby and import letters of credit false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 true true false false 153000000 153 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Total standby and import letters of credit No authoritative reference available. false 1 8 false Millions UnKnown UnKnown false true