Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Income Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 137,802	$ 125,185
Cost of revenues	227,715	211,086
Selling, general and administrative	95,249	98,823
Total operating expenses	322,964	309,909
Other income (expense), net	1,220	2,641
Interest expense on borrowings	(21,277)	(21,466)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(205,219)	(203,549)
Income tax benefit	(77,401)	(82,523)
Net loss from continuing operations	(127,818)	(121,026)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(2,749)	(2,647)
Net loss	(130,567)	(123,673)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,462	(3,571)
Comprehensive loss	(128,105)	(127,244)
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Other income (expense), net	(132,264)	(124,662)
Interest expense on borrowings	0	0
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(132,264)	(124,662)
Income tax benefit	(1,697)	(989)
Net loss from continuing operations	(130,567)	(123,673)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0
Net loss	(130,567)	(123,673)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,462	(3,571)
Comprehensive loss	(128,105)	(127,244)
Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	123,094	109,800
Cost of revenues	219,970	202,599
Selling, general and administrative	94,776	96,343
Total operating expenses	314,746	298,942
Other income (expense), net	(2,418)	(9,630)
Interest expense on borrowings	(73)	(152)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(194,143)	(198,924)
Income tax benefit	(71,081)	(75,740)
Net loss from continuing operations	(123,062)	(123,184)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1)	(1)
Net loss	(123,063)	(123,185)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,462	(3,571)
Comprehensive loss	(120,601)	(126,756)
Block Financial (Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	17,556	15,504
Cost of revenues	7,860	8,606
Selling, general and administrative	3,206	2,480
Total operating expenses	11,066	11,086
Other income (expense), net	6,073	826
Interest expense on borrowings	(21,204)	(21,314)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(8,641)	(16,070)
Income tax benefit	(4,623)	(5,794)
Net loss from continuing operations	(4,018)	(10,276)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(2,748)	(2,646)
Net loss	(6,766)	(12,922)
Comprehensive loss	(6,766)	(12,922)
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	(2,848)	(119)
Cost of revenues	(115)	(119)
Selling, general and administrative	(2,733)
Total operating expenses	(2,848)	(119)
Other income (expense), net	129,829	136,107
Interest expense on borrowings	0	0
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	129,829	136,107
Net loss from continuing operations	129,829	136,107
Net loss	129,829	136,107
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,462)	3,571
Comprehensive loss	$ 127,367	$ 139,678