CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 01, 2026	Jan. 31, 2026	Aug. 02, 2025
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 147,954	$ 238,923	$ 126,780
Merchandise inventory	817,910	701,966	718,337
Accounts receivable, net	245,231	258,624	237,355
Prepaid expenses	103,331	93,231	167,295
Other current assets	22,257	21,429	21,335
Total current assets	1,336,683	1,314,173	1,271,102
Operating lease right-of-use assets	1,646,845	1,450,592	1,604,457
Property and equipment, at cost, net of accumulated depreciation	814,979	785,622	773,872
Goodwill, net	225,181	225,269	225,231
Non-current deferred income taxes	93,664	85,532	48,322
Intangible assets, net	35,974	37,468	40,674
Other assets	125,495	111,024	97,374
Total assets	4,278,821	4,009,680	4,061,032
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	253,663	251,761	247,578
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	309,108	320,005	321,334
Accrued compensation and payroll taxes	94,629	82,354	49,534
Unredeemed gift cards and gift certificates	62,837	75,278	57,376
Accrued income and other taxes	29,084	41,290	30,631
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses	90,067	96,875	76,932
Total current liabilities	839,388	867,563	783,385
Non-current liabilities:
Non-current operating lease liabilities	1,556,639	1,380,318	1,473,119
Long-term debt, net	55,000	0	203,000
Other non-current liabilities	65,479	70,365	56,918
Total non-current liabilities	1,677,118	1,450,683	1,733,037
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; 167,639, 168,958 and 169,336 shares outstanding, respectively	2,496	2,496	2,496
Contributed capital	360,833	382,676	369,478
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(16,357)	(15,586)	(34,646)
Retained earnings	2,678,371	2,552,721	2,416,980
Treasury stock, at cost, 81,927, 80,608 and 80,230 shares, respectively	(1,261,525)	(1,229,154)	(1,213,046)
Total AEO stockholders' equity	1,763,818	1,693,153	1,541,262
Non-controlling interests	(1,503)	(1,719)	3,348
Total stockholders' equity	1,762,315	1,691,434	1,544,610
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 4,278,821	$ 4,009,680	$ 4,061,032

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).