Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	$ (648,457)	$ (720,376)
Principal payments and sales of mortgage loans and real estate owned, net	0	19,009
Capital expenditures	(56,750)	(44,918)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(27,522)	(36,151)
Loans made to franchisees	(10,939)	(10,171)
Repayments from franchisees	10,322	14,263
Other, net	5,474	2,177
Net cash used in investing activities	(79,415)	(55,791)
Repayments of line of credit borrowings	0	(50,000)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	0	525,000
Dividends paid	(100,082)	(95,971)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(7,581)	(215,511)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	27,522	1,630
Other, net	(26,717)	(43,734)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(106,858)	121,414
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,147)	(4,110)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(835,877)	(658,863)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,117,539	1,000,911
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	281,662	342,048
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dividends paid	(100,082)	(95,971)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(7,581)	(215,511)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	27,522	1,630
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	80,141	309,852
Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(630,630)	(642,470)
Capital expenditures	(56,740)	(44,913)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(27,522)	(36,151)
Loans made to franchisees	(54)	(107)
Repayments from franchisees	245	211
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(80,141)	(309,852)
Other, net	6,472	2,489
Net cash used in investing activities	(157,740)	(388,323)
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(20,163)	426,824
Other, net	(26,055)	(43,734)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(46,218)	383,090
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,147)	(4,110)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(835,735)	(651,813)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,104,993	962,882
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	269,258	311,069
Block Financial (Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(17,827)	(77,906)
Principal payments and sales of mortgage loans and real estate owned, net		19,009
Capital expenditures	(10)	(5)
Loans made to franchisees	(10,885)	(10,064)
Repayments from franchisees	10,077	14,052
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	20,163	(426,824)
Other, net	(998)	(312)
Net cash used in investing activities	18,347	(404,144)
Repayments of line of credit borrowings		(50,000)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings		525,000
Other, net	(662)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(662)	475,000
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(142)	(7,050)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	12,546	38,029
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	12,404	30,979
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	59,978	736,676
Net cash used in investing activities	59,978	736,676
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(59,978)	(736,676)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	$ (59,978)	$ (736,676)