Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Share-based Awards - Stock Option Activity (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Share-based Awards - Stock Option Activity (Detail) (Employee Stock Option [Member], USD $)
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015
Feb. 01, 2014
Feb. 02, 2013
Employee Stock Option [Member]
     
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Common stock options outstanding shares, Beginning of year 1,090us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
1,807us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
3,559us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding shares, Granted 371us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
302us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
241us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding shares, Exercised (238)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
(705)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
(1,795)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding shares, Forfeited (150)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationForfeited
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
(314)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationForfeited
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
(198)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensationForfeited
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding shares, End of year 1,073us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
1,090us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
1,807us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding shares, Exercisable at end of year 440us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
363us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
563us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding shares, Vested and Expected to vest 1,028us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
1,046us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
1,807us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding weighted-average exercise price, Beginning of year $ 56.94us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 41.60us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 26.46us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding weighted-average exercise price, Granted $ 99.40ulta_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionGrantInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 84.50ulta_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionGrantInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 89.99ulta_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionGrantInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding weighted-average exercise price, Exercised $ 44.79ulta_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionExerciseInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 31.07ulta_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionExerciseInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 17.57ulta_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionExerciseInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding weighted-average exercise price, Forfeited $ 72.57us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 53.15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 46.28us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding weighted-average exercise price, End of year $ 72.12us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 56.94us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 41.60us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding weighted-average exercise price, Exercisable at end of year $ 43.98us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 34.37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 24.85us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Common stock options outstanding weighted-average exercise price, Vested and expected to vest $ 71.28us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 56.47us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
$ 41.60us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember