Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2020	Oct. 31, 2019
REVENUE:
Revenues	$ 15,972	$ 19,437	$ 28,961	$ 36,453
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Marketing and advertising	893	1,035	1,845	2,139
Employee benefits	566	526	1,151	1,073
Depreciation and amortization	1,338	1,276	2,644	2,515
General, administrative and other	1,383	1,804	2,890	3,590
Total costs and expenses	14,285	15,210	27,146	28,705
OPERATING INCOME	1,687	4,227	1,815	7,748
OTHER EXPENSE:
Interest expense	(1,065)	(1,087)	(1,653)	(2,184)
Total other expense	(1,065)	(1,087)	(1,653)	(1,655)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	622	3,140	162	6,093
Gain on sale of airplanes				529
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
Provision for income taxes	120	825	114	1,587
NET INCOME	502	2,315	48	4,506
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in BHCMC, LLC	(181)	(85)	258	(215)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION	$ 321	$ 2,230	$ 306	$ 4,291
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.03	$ 0	$ 0.06
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	74,130,934	68,104,433	74,258,559	68,233,900
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.03	$ 0	$ 0.06
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	74,130,934	68,104,433	74,258,559	68,233,900
Professional Services [Member]
REVENUE:
Revenues	$ 7,648	$ 8,107	$ 13,001	$ 16,223
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of services and products	3,418	4,006	6,828	7,856
Aerospace Products [Member]
REVENUE:
Revenues	8,324	11,330	15,960	20,230
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of services and products	$ 6,687	$ 6,563	$ 11,788	$ 11,532