2.4.0.840604 - Disclosure - Fair Value Disclosures (Other Financial Instruments) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalseDuration_2_3_2013_To_8_3_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166126duration2013-02-03T00:00:002013-08-03T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$2false USDfalsefalse$As_Of_2_2_2013http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166126instant2013-02-02T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false USDfalsefalse$As_Of_7_28_2012http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001166126instant2012-07-28T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 1jcp_FairValueDisclosuresjcp_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Fair Value Disclosures2false 2us-gaap_LongTermDebtus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse48730000004873USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse28680000002868USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse30980000003098USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 false2Long-term debt, including current maturities, Carrying Amount3false 2us-gaap_NotesPayableFairValueDisclosureus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse42720000004272falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse24560000002456falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse26510000002651falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFair value portion of notes payable.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 20, 22 -Article 5 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20,22) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 false2Long-term debt, including current maturities, Fair Value4false 2us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsus-gaap_truedebitinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1truefalsefalse3600000036USD$falsetruefalse2truefalsefalse3600000036USD$falsetruefalse3truefalsefalse3600000036USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount, after adjustment, of cost-method investment. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, dividends received in excess of earnings after date of investment that are considered a return of investment and other than temporary impairments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872867&loc=d3e40691-111596 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -Section 35 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638308&loc=d3e40346-111594 false2Cost investment, Carrying Value5false 2us-gaap_FairValueEstimateNotPracticableReasonsCostMethodInvestmentsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00The cost investment is for equity securities that are not registered and freely tradable shares and their fair values are not readily determinable; however, we believe the carrying value approximates or is less than the fair value.falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringThis item represents a discussion of the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value for the indicated financial instrument (as defined). Such disclosure may relate to an individual financial instrument or a class of financial instruments.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 325 -SubTopic 20 -Section 25 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=29638263&loc=d3e39828-111592 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 16 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13504-108611 false0Fair Value, Estimate Not Practicable, Reasons, Cost Method InvestmentsfalseFair Value Disclosures (Other Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.jcpenney.net/role/DisclosureFairValueDisclosuresOtherFinancialInstrumentsDetails35