Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2020	Apr. 30, 2019
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 65,871	$ 58,710
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Marketing and advertising	4,095	4,167
Employee benefits	2,606	2,304
Depreciation and amortization	5,116	1,846
General, administrative and other	7,347	7,819
Total costs and expenses	57,565	53,432
OPERATING INCOME	8,306	5,278
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(4,368)	(248)
Gain on sale of airplanes	642
Refund of sales/use tax		1,995
Total other income (expense)	(3,726)	1,747
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	4,580	7,025
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
Provision for income taxes	1,594	297
Deferred income tax (benefit)	(260)	1,078
NET INCOME	3,246	5,650
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in BHCMC, LLC	988	(1,797)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION	$ 4,234	$ 3,853
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.06
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	68,622,527	64,511,608
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.06
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	68,622,527	64,511,608
Professional Services [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenues	$ 28,283	$ 32,017
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of services and products	15,516	20,066
Aerospace Products [Member]
REVENUES:
Revenues	37,588	26,693
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of services and products	$ 22,885	$ 17,230