Note 12 - Stock Options and Incentive Plans (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Mar. 17, 2020	Apr. 12, 2019	Oct. 31, 2023	Jul. 31, 2022	Jan. 31, 2024	Jan. 31, 2023	Nov. 30, 2016
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expense					$ 312	$ 434
Shares Issued, Value, Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Forfeited					401	205
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expense, Tax Benefit					$ 89	$ 229
Butler National Corporation 2016 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in shares)							12,500,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Restricted Stock Award, Gross	$ 2,000	$ 950
Butler National Corporation 2016 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Director [Member]
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services (in shares)			300,000	400,000
Shares Issued, Price Per Share (in dollars per share)			$ 0.74	$ 0.88
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services			$ 222	$ 352
Butler National Corporation 2016 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in shares)	5,000,000	2,500,000
Share Price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.38
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)		5 years