Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2018	Oct. 27, 2017	Oct. 26, 2018	Oct. 27, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 7,481	$ 7,050	$ 14,865	$ 14,440
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,203	2,123	4,407	4,475
Research and development expense	590	556	1,175	1,105
Selling, general, and administrative expense	2,605	2,539	5,202	5,119
Amortization of intangible assets	445	460	891	914
Restructuring charges, net	24	8	86	16
Certain litigation charges	0	0	103	0
Gain on sale of businesses	0	(697)	0	(697)
Other operating expense, net	70	167	221	232
Operating profit (loss)	1,544	1,894	2,780	3,276
Other non-operating income, net	(52)	(107)	(238)	(206)
Interest expense	241	273	483	559
Income before income taxes	1,355	1,728	2,535	2,923
Income tax provision (benefit)	235	(285)	338	(99)
Net income	1,120	2,013	2,197	3,022
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5)	4	(7)	11
Net income attributable to Medtronic	$ 1,115	$ 2,017	$ 2,190	$ 3,033
Basic earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 0.83	$ 1.49	$ 1.62	$ 2.23
Diluted earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 0.82	$ 1.48	$ 1.61	$ 2.21
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,349.2	1,355.1	1,350.9	1,358.5
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,360.9	1,365.8	1,363.0	1,370.8