Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2017	Jan. 29, 2016	Jan. 27, 2017	Jan. 29, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 7,283,000,000	$ 6,934,000,000	$ 21,794,000,000	$ 21,266,000,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,268,000,000	2,141,000,000	6,855,000,000	6,779,000,000
Research and development expense	530,000,000	546,000,000	1,640,000,000	1,649,000,000
Selling, general, and administrative expense	2,388,000,000	2,317,000,000	7,232,000,000	7,109,000,000
Special charge	100,000,000	0	100,000,000	0
Restructuring charges, net	21,000,000	19,000,000	162,000,000	159,000,000
Certain litigation charges	218,000,000	0	300,000,000	26,000,000
Acquisition-related items	68,000,000	63,000,000	148,000,000	183,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	497,000,000	484,000,000	1,484,000,000	1,448,000,000
Other expense, net	46,000,000	9,000,000	174,000,000	127,000,000
Operating profit	1,147,000,000	1,355,000,000	3,699,000,000	3,786,000,000
Interest income	(88,000,000)	(99,000,000)	(272,000,000)	(321,000,000)
Interest expense	268,000,000	275,000,000	804,000,000	905,000,000
Interest expense, net	180,000,000	176,000,000	532,000,000	584,000,000
Income from operations before income taxes	967,000,000	1,179,000,000	3,167,000,000	3,202,000,000
Provision for income taxes	147,000,000	84,000,000	307,000,000	767,000,000
Net income	820,000,000	1,095,000,000	2,860,000,000	2,435,000,000
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,000,000)	0	(5,000,000)	0
Net income attributable to Medtronic	$ 821,000,000	$ 1,095,000,000	$ 2,865,000,000	$ 2,435,000,000
Basic earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 0.60	$ 0.78	$ 2.07	$ 1.72
Diluted earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.77	$ 2.05	$ 1.70
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,372.2	1,406.6	1,381.9	1,412.5
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,383.1	1,422.2	1,394.7	1,429.2
Cash dividends declared per ordinary share (usd per share)	$ 0.43	$ 0.38	$ 1.29	$ 1.140