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	Jan. 31, 2025	Oct. 31, 2023	Jul. 30, 2022	Jan. 31, 2025	Jan. 31, 2024	Nov. 30, 2016
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expense						$ 206	$ 312
Shares Issued, Value, Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Forfeited							401
Share-Based Payment Arrangement, Expense, Tax Benefit							$ 89
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
Butler National Corporation 2016 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Director [Member]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)			2 years
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Issued for Services (in shares)			87,000	300	400
Shares Issued, Price Per Share (in dollars per share)			$ 1.73	$ 0.74	$ 0.88	$ 1.73
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Issued for Services			$ 150	$ 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-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period (in shares)		1.65
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period (in shares)		850,000
Share Price (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement by Share-Based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)		5 years