| Pay vs Performance Disclosure - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance [Table Text Block] | Average Average Value of Initial Fixed $100 Summary Compensation Investment Based On: Compensation Actually Paid Table Total for to Non-PEO Peer Group Summary Compensation Non-PEO Named Total Net Adjusted Compensation Actually Paid Named Executive Total Shareholder Income EBIDTA (4) Table Total for to PEO Executive Officers Shareholder Return ($ is in ($ is in Year PEO (1) Officers (2) Return (3) millions) millions) 2022 11,055,991 6,582,240 2,906,394 1,397,507 158.85 168.26 1,177 2,648 2021 12,290,931 34,457,910 3,480,607 7,504,335 169.84 188.51 1,430 3,320 2020 11,083,293 18,363,349 2,809,887 4,015,291 99.12 206.63 (3,944) 117 (1) Mr. Gennette was the only executive officer included as a PEO for 2022, 2021 and 2020. Amounts deducted from Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO to calculate Compensation Actually Paid to PEO for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, include $0, $477,829 and $306,549 reflecting aggregate change in actuarial present value of benefit under defined benefit and actuarial pension plans, $8,333,532, $7,096,408 and $7,014,892 for value of stock awards and $0, $0 and $0 for value of “Option Awards.” Amounts added to (or subtracted from) Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO to calculate Compensation Actually Paid to PEO for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, include $7,556,274, $12,958,600 and $14,997,545 for fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in the year that remain outstanding and unvested at end of year, $(4,853,855), $11,659,895 and $1,575,897 for change in fair value during the year for RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested at end of year, $566,026, $4,615,905 and $(681,779) for fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior or current year(s) and vested in the year, $0, $0 and $(1,290,166) for fair value of PRSU awards that failed to meet vesting conditions in the year and $591,336, $506,816 and $0 for dividends paid on earned PRSUs. (2) The Named Executive Officers included in the calculation of Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Named Executive Officers were for 2022 – Adrian V. Mitchell (Chief Financial Officer), Elisa D. Garcia (Chief Legal Officer), Danielle L. Kirgan (Chief Transformation and Human Resources Officer) and Tony Spring (EVP, Macy’s, Inc. and Chairman and CEO Bloomingdale’s), for 2021 – Mr. Mitchell, Ms. Garcia, Ms. Kirgan, Mr. Spring and John Harper (former Chief Operations Officer), and for 2020 – Mr. Mitchell, Ms. Garcia, Mr. Harper, Ms. Kirgan, Felicia Williams (former interim CFO) and Paula A. Price (former CFO). Amounts (as averages) deducted from Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Named Executive Officers to calculate Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO Named Executive Officers for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, include $0, $69,328 and $72,698 aggregate change in actuarial present value of benefit under defined benefit and actuarial pension plans, $1,617,661, $1,177,505 and $1,383,889 for value of stock awards and $0, $0 and $0 for value of option awards. Amounts (as averages) added to (or subtracted from) Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Named Executive Officers to calculate Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO Named Executive Officers for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, include $1,466,783, $2,150,216 and $2,885,619 for fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in the year that remain outstanding and unvested at end of year, $(1,018,561), $2,241,813 and $184 for change in fair value during the year of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested at end of year, $(396,175), $811,260 and $(108,287) for fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior or current year(s) and vested in the year, $0, $0 and $(115,525) for fair value of PRSU awards that failed to meet vesting conditions in the year and $56,727, $67,272 and $0 for dividends paid on earned PRSUs. Fair value at the relevant times of PRSU awards subject to achievement of performance conditions is based on the Company’s estimate of the probable outcome of units being earned. Assumptions used to estimate fair value of stock and option awards are the same as those disclosed as of the date of grant of the award. (3) The peer group is the S&P Retail Select Index. (4) We chose Adjusted EBITDA as our Company Selected measure for evaluating Pay versus Performance because it is a key metric in our Annual Incentive Plan. See “Non-GAAP Metrics” in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” for definition of Adjusted EBITDA. | | |
| Company Selected Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | | |
| Named Executive Officers, Footnote [Text Block] | (1) Mr. Gennette was the only executive officer included as a PEO for 2022, 2021 and 2020. (2) The Named Executive Officers included in the calculation of Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Named Executive Officers were for 2022 – Adrian V. Mitchell (Chief Financial Officer), Elisa D. Garcia (Chief Legal Officer), Danielle L. Kirgan (Chief Transformation and Human Resources Officer) and Tony Spring (EVP, Macy’s, Inc. and Chairman and CEO Bloomingdale’s), for 2021 – Mr. Mitchell, Ms. Garcia, Ms. Kirgan, Mr. Spring and John Harper (former Chief Operations Officer), and for 2020 – Mr. Mitchell, Ms. Garcia, Mr. Harper, Ms. Kirgan, Felicia Williams (former interim CFO) and Paula A. Price (former CFO). | | |
| Peer Group Issuers, Footnote [Text Block] | (3) The peer group is the S&P Retail Select Index. | | |
| PEO Total Compensation Amount | $ 11,055,991 | $ 12,290,931 | $ 11,083,293 |
| PEO Actually Paid Compensation Amount | $ 6,582,240 | 34,457,910 | 18,363,349 |
| Adjustment To PEO Compensation, Footnote [Text Block] | Amounts deducted from Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO to calculate Compensation Actually Paid to PEO for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, include $0, $477,829 and $306,549 reflecting aggregate change in actuarial present value of benefit under defined benefit and actuarial pension plans, $8,333,532, $7,096,408 and $7,014,892 for value of stock awards and $0, $0 and $0 for value of “Option Awards.” Amounts added to (or subtracted from) Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO to calculate Compensation Actually Paid to PEO for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, include $7,556,274, $12,958,600 and $14,997,545 for fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in the year that remain outstanding and unvested at end of year, $(4,853,855), $11,659,895 and $1,575,897 for change in fair value during the year for RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested at end of year, $566,026, $4,615,905 and $(681,779) for fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior or current year(s) and vested in the year, $0, $0 and $(1,290,166) for fair value of PRSU awards that failed to meet vesting conditions in the year and $591,336, $506,816 and $0 for dividends paid on earned PRSUs. | | |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Total Compensation Amount | $ 2,906,394 | 3,480,607 | 2,809,887 |
| Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount | $ 1,397,507 | 7,504,335 | 4,015,291 |
| Adjustment to Non-PEO NEO Compensation Footnote [Text Block] | Amounts (as averages) deducted from Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Named Executive Officers to calculate Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO Named Executive Officers for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, include $0, $69,328 and $72,698 aggregate change in actuarial present value of benefit under defined benefit and actuarial pension plans, $1,617,661, $1,177,505 and $1,383,889 for value of stock awards and $0, $0 and $0 for value of option awards. Amounts (as averages) added to (or subtracted from) Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO Named Executive Officers to calculate Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO Named Executive Officers for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively, include $1,466,783, $2,150,216 and $2,885,619 for fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in the year that remain outstanding and unvested at end of year, $(1,018,561), $2,241,813 and $184 for change in fair value during the year of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior years that were outstanding and unvested at end of year, $(396,175), $811,260 and $(108,287) for fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior or current year(s) and vested in the year, $0, $0 and $(115,525) for fair value of PRSU awards that failed to meet vesting conditions in the year and $56,727, $67,272 and $0 for dividends paid on earned PRSUs. Fair value at the relevant times of PRSU awards subject to achievement of performance conditions is based on the Company’s estimate of the probable outcome of units being earned. Assumptions used to estimate fair value of stock and option awards are the same as those disclosed as of the date of grant of the award. | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Net Income [Text Block] | | | |
| Compensation Actually Paid vs. Company Selected Measure [Text Block] | | | |
| Tabular List [Table Text Block] | Performance Measures The most important financial performance measures used to link compensation actually paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers with the Company’s performance for 2022 are as follows: ■ Adjusted EBITDA ■ Sales ■ Relative Total Shareholder Return | | |
| Total Shareholder Return Amount | $ 158.85 | 169.84 | 99.12 |
| Peer Group Total Shareholder Return Amount | 168.26 | 188.51 | 206.63 |
| Net Income (Loss) | $ 1,177,000,000 | $ 1,430,000,000 | $ (3,944,000,000) |
| Company Selected Measure Amount | 2,648,000,000 | 3,320,000,000 | 117,000,000 |
| PEO Name | Mr. Gennette | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 1 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Adjusted EBITDA | | |
| Non-GAAP Measure Description [Text Block] | (4) We chose Adjusted EBITDA as our Company Selected measure for evaluating Pay versus Performance because it is a key metric in our Annual Incentive Plan. See “Non-GAAP Metrics” in “Compensation Discussion & Analysis” for definition of Adjusted EBITDA. | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 2 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Sales | | |
| Measure [Axis]: 3 | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Measure Name | Relative Total Shareholder Return | | |
| PEO [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Option Awards | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
| Pension | 0 | 477,829 | 306,549 |
| Stock Awards | 8,333,532 | 7,096,408 | 7,014,892 |
| PEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments fair value of PRSU awards that failed to meet vesting conditions in the year | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | (1,290,166) |
| PEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior or current year(s) and vested | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 566,026 | 4,615,905 | (681,779) |
| PEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments change in fair value during the year for RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior years | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (4,853,855) | 11,659,895 | 1,575,897 |
| PEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments dividends paid on earned PRSUs | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 591,336 | 506,816 | 0 |
| PEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted remain outstanding and unvested | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 7,556,274 | 12,958,600 | 14,997,545 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Option Awards | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pension | 0 | 69,328 | 72,698 |
| Stock Awards | 1,617,661 | 1,177,505 | 1,383,889 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments fair value of PRSU awards that failed to meet vesting conditions in the year | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 0 | 0 | (115,525) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior or current year(s) and vested | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (396,175) | 811,260 | (108,287) |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments change in fair value during the year for RSU, PRSU and option awards granted in prior years | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | (1,018,561) | 2,241,813 | 184 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments dividends paid on earned PRSUs | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | 56,727 | 67,272 | 0 |
| Non-PEO NEO [Member] | Equity awards adjustments fair value of RSU, PRSU and option awards granted remain outstanding and unvested | | | |
| Pay vs Performance Disclosure [Table] | | | |
| Adjustment to Compensation Amount | $ 1,466,783 | $ 2,150,216 | $ 2,885,619 |
