CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May 02, 2026	Jan. 31, 2026	May 03, 2025
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 103,286	$ 238,923	$ 87,853
Merchandise inventory	816,666	701,966	645,062
Accounts receivable, net	200,781	258,624	228,561
Prepaid expenses	94,383	93,231	103,466
Other current assets	23,477	21,429	23,082
Total current assets	1,238,593	1,314,173	1,088,024
Operating lease right-of-use assets	1,580,670	1,450,592	1,471,705
Property and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation	794,943	785,622	765,594
Goodwill, net	225,275	225,269	225,225
Non-current deferred income taxes	88,068	85,532	78,483
Intangible assets, net	36,855	37,468	41,549
Other assets	116,466	111,024	96,774
Total assets	4,080,870	4,009,680	3,767,354
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	203,813	251,761	247,994
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	310,586	320,005	319,626
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes	67,810	82,354	58,380
Unredeemed gift cards and gift certificates	67,408	75,278	63,282
Accrued income and other taxes	44,089	41,290	23,114
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses	107,920	96,875	75,261
Total current liabilities	801,626	867,563	787,657
Non-current liabilities:
Non-current operating lease liabilities	1,479,103	1,380,318	1,337,489
Long-term debt, net	85,000		110,000
Other non-current liabilities	71,597	70,365	57,992
Total non-current liabilities	1,635,700	1,450,683	1,505,481
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 600,000 shares authorized; 249,566 shares issued; 167,524, 168,958 and 173,267 shares outstanding, respectively	2,496	2,496	2,496
Contributed capital	354,723	382,676	362,342
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(15,221)	(15,586)	(42,105)
Retained earnings	2,565,906	2,552,721	2,361,273
Treasury stock, at cost, 82,042, 80,608 and 76,299 shares, respectively	(1,263,237)	(1,229,154)	(1,212,774)
Total AEO stockholders' equity	1,644,667	1,693,153	1,471,232
Non-controlling interests	(1,123)	(1,719)	2,984
Total stockholders' equity	1,643,544	1,691,434	1,474,216
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 4,080,870	$ 4,009,680	$ 3,767,354

Unredeemed gift cards and gift certificates, current.

No definition available.

Name:	aeo_UnredeemedGiftCardsAndGiftCertificatesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	aeo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).