Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
REVENUE:
Revenues	$ 19,437	$ 15,297	$ 36,453	$ 28,701
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Marketing and advertising	1,035	1,060	2,139	2,035
Employee benefits	526	481	1,073	987
Depreciation and amortization	1,276	395	2,515	783
General, administrative and other	1,804	2,286	3,590	3,979
Total costs and expenses	15,210	13,479	28,705	25,983
OPERATING INCOME	4,227	1,818	7,748	2,718
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(1,087)	(55)	(2,184)	(124)
Refund of sales/use tax		1,330		1,610
Total other income (expense)	(1,087)	1,275	(1,655)	1,486
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	3,140	3,093	6,093	4,204
Gain on sale of airplane			529
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
Provision for income taxes	825	637	1,587	825
NET INCOME	2,315	2,456	4,506	3,379
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in BHCMC, LLC	(85)	(735)	(215)	(1,149)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION	$ 2,230	$ 1,721	$ 4,291	$ 2,230
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.06	$ 0.03
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	68,104,433	63,820,359	68,233,900	64,260,774
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03	$ 0.03	$ 0.06	$ 0.03
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	68,104,433	63,820,359	68,233,900	64,260,774
Professional Services [Member]
REVENUE:
Revenues	$ 8,107	$ 7,858	$ 16,223	$ 15,806
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of services and products	4,006	4,926	7,856	9,738
Aerospace Products [Member]
REVENUE:
Revenues	11,330	7,439	20,230	12,895
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of services and products	$ 6,563	$ 4,331	$ 11,532	$ 8,461