2.4.0.840551 - Disclosure - Long-Term Debt Tender Offer (Details)truefalsefalse1false falsefalseDuration_5_21_2013_To_5_22_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166126duration2013-05-21T00:00:002013-05-22T00:00:00Unit15Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli02false falsefalseDuration_5_13_2013_To_5_14_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166126duration2013-05-13T00:00:002013-05-14T00:00:003false falsefalseDuration_4_29_2013_To_4_30_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166126duration2013-04-29T00:00:002013-04-30T00:00:004false falsefalseDuration_5_5_2013_To_8_3_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166126duration2013-05-05T00:00:002013-08-03T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_DebtInstrumentsAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Debt Instruments [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionDescriptionus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00On May 14, 2013, we announced that we had amended our previously announced Tender Offer (Amended Tender Offer) and related solicitation of consents to extend the expiration date of the consent solicitation and to increase the tender consideration. The Amended Tender Offer increased the total consideration from $1,350 to $1,450 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (Amended Tender Offer Consideration); extended the expiration date of the consent solicitation from May 13, 2013 to May 20, 2013 (Consent Expiration) and extended the expiration of the tender offer from May 28, 2013 to June 4, 2013 (Expiration Time)falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00On April 30, 2013 we announced the commencement of a cash tender offer (Tender Offer) and consent solicitation for our 7.125% Debentures Due 2023 (Notes) for total consideration consisting of an amount equal to $1,350 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, including a consent payment in the amount equal to $50 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. We solicited consents to effect certain proposed amendments to the indenture, as amended and supplemented, governing the Notes (the Indenture) that would eliminate most of the restrictive covenants and certain events of default and other provisions in the Indenture (Proposed Amendments).falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00Holders that validly tendered their Notes prior to the Consent Expiration, as extended, received the Amended Tender Offer Consideration. Holders that validly tendered their Notes after the Consent Expiration, as extended, but prior to the Expiration Time, as extended, received only the tender offer consideration of $1,400 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (Tender Offer Consideration). Holders whose Notes were accepted for purchase in the Amended Tender Offer also received accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the applicable payment date for the Notes.falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringDescription of debt redemption features under terms of the debt agreement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 470 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph e -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823 false0Debt Instrument, Redemption, Description3false 2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodStartDateus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse002013-04-30falsefalsetrue4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:dateItemTypedateStart date of debt instrument redemption period, in CCYY-MM-DD format.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 470 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph e -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823 false0Debt Instrument, Redemption Period, Start Date4false 2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPeriodEndDateus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse002013-06-04falsefalsetruexbrli:dateItemTypedateEnd date of debt instrument redemption period, in CCYY-MM-DD format.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 470 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph e -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823 false0Debt Instrument, Redemption Period, End Date5false 2us-gaap_DebtInstrumentRedemptionPricePercentageOfPrincipalAmountRedeemedus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truetruefalse0.95410.9541falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsenum:percentItemTypepurePercentage of principal amount of debt redeemed.No definition available.false0Debt Instrument, Redemption Price, Percentage of Principal Amount RedeemedfalseLong-Term Debt Tender Offer (Details)UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.jcpenney.net/role/DisclosureLongTermDebtTenderOfferDetails45