Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2020	Jul. 31, 2019
REVENUE:
Revenues	$ 12,989	$ 17,016
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Marketing and advertising	953	1,104
Employee benefits	585	547
Depreciation and amortization	1,306	1,239
General, administrative and other	1,507	1,786
Total costs and expenses	12,861	13,495
OPERATING INCOME	128	3,521
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(588)	(1,097)
Gain on sale of airplane		529
Total other income (expense)	(588)	(568)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(460)	2,953
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(6)	762
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(454)	2,191
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in BHCMC, LLC	439	(130)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION	$ (15)	$ 2,061
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.03
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	74,386,184	68,270,565
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.03
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	74,386,184	68,270,565
Professional Services [Member]
REVENUE:
Revenues	$ 5,352	$ 8,116
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of services and products	3,410	3,850
Aerospace Products [Member]
REVENUE:
Revenues	7,637	8,900
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of services and products	$ 5,100	$ 4,969