Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total AeroVironment, Inc. Equity Adoption of ASU 2018-09	Total AeroVironment, Inc. Equity	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings Adoption of ASU 2018-09	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Non-controlling Interest	Adoption of ASU 2018-09	Total
Balance at Apr. 30, 2019	$ 665	$ 462,571	$ 2	$ 176,216	$ 665	$ 286,351	$ 2	$ 4	$ 665
Balance, Beginning at Apr. 30, 2019										$ 462,575
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2019			23,946,293
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)		41,074				41,074				41,074
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest								(4)		4
Net Income (loss) including non-controlling interest										41,070
Unrealized (loss) gain on investments		50					50			50
Foreign currency translation		276					276			276
Stock options exercised		100		100						100
Stock options exercised (in shares)			16,189
Restricted stock awards (in shares)			131,991
Restricted stock awards forfeited (in shares)			(12,541)
Tax withholding payment related to net share settlement of equity awards		(1,062)		(1,062)						(1,062)
Tax withholding payment related to net share settlement of equity awards (in shares)			(18,293)
Stock-based compensation		6,227		6,227						6,227
Balance at Apr. 30, 2020		509,901	$ 2	181,481		328,090	328
Balance, Ending at Apr. 30, 2020										509,901
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2020			24,063,639
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)		23,331				23,331				23,331
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest								14		(14)
Net Income (loss) including non-controlling interest										23,345
Unrealized (loss) gain on investments		(60)					(60)			(60)
Foreign currency translation		75					75			75
Stock options exercised		1,522		1,522						1,522
Stock options exercised (in shares)			53,500
Restricted stock awards (in shares)			117,468
Restricted stock awards forfeited (in shares)			(5,509)
Business acquisition		72,384		72,384						72,384
Business acquisition (in shares)			573,794
Tax withholding payment related to net share settlement of equity awards		(1,992)		(1,992)						(1,992)
Tax withholding payment related to net share settlement of equity awards (in shares)			(25,597)
Stock-based compensation		6,932		6,932						6,932
Balance at Apr. 30, 2021		612,093	$ 2	260,327		351,421	343	14		612,093
Balance, Ending at Apr. 30, 2021										612,107
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2021			24,777,295
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income (loss)		(4,188)				(4,188)				(4,188)
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest								3		(3)
Net Income (loss) including non-controlling interest										(4,185)
Unrealized (loss) gain on investments		(43)					(43)			(43)
Foreign currency translation		(6,814)					(6,814)			(6,814)
Stock options exercised		2,776		2,776						2,776
Stock options exercised (in shares)			114,362
Restricted stock awards (in shares)			104,402
Restricted stock awards forfeited (in shares)			(32,120)
Tax withholding payment related to net share settlement of equity awards		(1,245)		(1,245)						(1,245)
Tax withholding payment related to net share settlement of equity awards (in shares)			(12,652)
Change in non-controlling interest								224		224
Stock-based compensation		5,390		5,390						5,390
Balance at Apr. 30, 2022		$ 607,969	$ 2	$ 267,248		$ 347,233	$ (6,514)	$ 241		607,969
Balance, Ending at Apr. 30, 2022										$ 608,210
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2022			24,951,287