Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Jan. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019	Apr. 30, 2018
Selected Quarterly Financial Information
Revenue	$ 135,223,000	$ 61,891,000	$ 83,271,000	$ 86,911,000	$ 87,930,000	$ 75,322,000	$ 72,979,000	$ 78,043,000	$ 367,296,000	$ 314,274,000	$ 268,424,000
Gross margin	53,168,000	23,496,000	35,166,000	41,272,000	37,023,000	30,392,000	28,399,000	32,589,000	$ 153,102,000	$ 128,403,000	$ 107,685,000
Net (loss) income from attributable to AeroVironment from continuing operations	$ 17,736,000	$ (1,008,000)	$ 7,501,000	$ 17,110,000	$ 6,097,000	$ 8,431,000	$ 7,047,000	$ 20,337,000
Net (loss) income per share attributable to AeroVironment from continuing operations-basic	$ 0.74	$ (0.04)	$ 0.32	$ 0.72	$ 0.26	$ 0.35	$ 0.30	$ 0.86	$ 1.74	$ 1.77	$ 0.93
Net (loss) income per share attributable to AeroVironment from continuing operations-diluted	$ 0.73	$ (0.04)	$ 0.31	$ 0.71	$ 0.26	$ 0.35	$ 0.29	$ 0.85	$ 1.72	$ 1.74	$ 0.91
Number of weeks									91 days
Impairment of intangible assets and goodwill											$ 1,021,000
Deferred tax expense											$ 3,300,000