Guarantor Financial Information , Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 26, 2019	Jan. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018	Jul. 27, 2018	Apr. 27, 2018	Jan. 26, 2018	Oct. 27, 2017	Jul. 28, 2017	Apr. 26, 2019	Apr. 27, 2018	Apr. 28, 2017
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 8,146	$ 7,546	$ 7,481	$ 7,384	$ 8,144	$ 7,369	$ 7,050	$ 7,390	$ 30,557	$ 29,953	$ 29,710
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									9,155	9,067	9,294
Research and development expense									2,330	2,256	2,193
Selling, general, and administrative expense									10,418	10,238	10,018
Amortization of intangible assets									1,764	1,823	1,980
Restructuring charges, net									198	30	303
Certain litigation charges									166	61	300
Gain on sale of businesses									0	(697)	0
Other operating expense (income), net									258	535	239
Operating profit (loss)									6,268	6,640	5,383
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									(373)	(181)	(313)
Interest expense									1,444	1,146	1,094
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes									5,197	5,675	4,602
Income tax (benefit) provision									547	2,580	578
Net income (loss)	1,182	1,271	1,120	1,077	1,465	(1,392)	2,013	1,009	4,650	3,095	4,024
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(19)	9	4
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	$ 1,172	$ 1,269	$ 1,115	$ 1,075	$ 1,460	$ (1,389)	$ 2,017	$ 1,016	4,631	3,104	4,028
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(975)	1,030	(744)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(16)	9	3
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									3,659	4,134	3,283
Consolidating Adjustments | Medtronic Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									(1,319)	(1,197)	(1,197)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									(788)	(788)	(793)
Research and development expense									0	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense									0	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets									0	0	0
Restructuring charges, net									0	0	0
Certain litigation charges									0	0	0
Gain on sale of businesses										0
Other operating expense (income), net									(427)	(408)	(423)
Operating profit (loss)									(104)	(1)	19
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									2,832	2,020	1,598
Interest expense									(2,832)	(2,020)	(1,598)
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									13,098	7,508	9,302
Income (loss) before income taxes									(13,202)	(7,509)	(9,283)
Income tax (benefit) provision									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									(13,202)	(7,509)	(9,283)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									(13,202)	(7,509)	(9,283)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									2,900	(2,956)	2,104
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									(10,302)	(10,465)	(7,179)
Consolidating Adjustments | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									0	0	0
Research and development expense									0	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense									0	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets									0	0	0
Restructuring charges, net									0	0	0
Certain litigation charges									0	0	0
Gain on sale of businesses										0
Other operating expense (income), net									0	0	0
Operating profit (loss)									0	0	0
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									1,337	723	805
Interest expense									(1,337)	(723)	(805)
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									13,130	10,659	11,474
Income (loss) before income taxes									(13,130)	(10,659)	(11,474)
Income tax (benefit) provision									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									(13,130)	(10,659)	(11,474)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									(13,130)	(10,659)	(11,474)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									2,022	(2,103)	1,724
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									(11,108)	(12,762)	(9,750)
Medtronic plc | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									0	0	0
Research and development expense									0	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense									11	12	12
Amortization of intangible assets									0	0	0
Restructuring charges, net									0	0	0
Certain litigation charges									0	0	0
Gain on sale of businesses										0
Other operating expense (income), net									54	52	18
Operating profit (loss)									(65)	(64)	(30)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									0	0	0
Interest expense									478	247	113
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									(5,167)	(3,408)	(4,163)
Income (loss) before income taxes									4,624	3,097	4,020
Income tax (benefit) provision									(7)	(7)	(8)
Net income (loss)									4,631	3,104	4,028
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									4,631	3,104	4,028
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(972)	1,030	(745)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									3,659	4,134	3,283
Medtronic plc | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									0	0	0
Research and development expense									0	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense									11	12	12
Amortization of intangible assets									0	0	0
Restructuring charges, net									0	0	0
Certain litigation charges									0	0	0
Gain on sale of businesses										0
Other operating expense (income), net									54	52	18
Operating profit (loss)									(65)	(64)	(30)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									0	0	0
Interest expense									478	247	113
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									(5,167)	(3,408)	(4,163)
Income (loss) before income taxes									4,624	3,097	4,020
Income tax (benefit) provision									(7)	(7)	(8)
Net income (loss)									4,631	3,104	4,028
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									4,631	3,104	4,028
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(972)	1,030	(745)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									3,659	4,134	3,283
Subsidiary Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									1,318	1,198	1,199
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									1,110	971	935
Research and development expense									659	656	636
Selling, general, and administrative expense									1,476	1,416	1,308
Amortization of intangible assets									8	8	11
Restructuring charges, net									44	(7)	54
Certain litigation charges									55	24	0
Gain on sale of businesses										0
Other operating expense (income), net									(2,426)	(2,265)	(2,380)
Operating profit (loss)									392	395	635
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									(507)	(192)	(197)
Interest expense									2,375	1,897	1,652
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									(3,089)	(940)	(1,563)
Income (loss) before income taxes									1,613	(370)	743
Income tax (benefit) provision									(246)	41	(124)
Net income (loss)									1,859	(411)	867
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									1,859	(411)	867
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(1,049)	972	(430)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									810	561	437
Subsidiary Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									0	0	0
Research and development expense									0	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense									1	1	1
Amortization of intangible assets									0	0	0
Restructuring charges, net									0	0	0
Certain litigation charges									0	0	0
Gain on sale of businesses										0
Other operating expense (income), net									1	1	1
Operating profit (loss)									(2)	(2)	(2)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									(44)	(60)	(82)
Interest expense									99	83	104
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									(3,144)	(4,105)	(3,736)
Income (loss) before income taxes									3,087	4,080	3,712
Income tax (benefit) provision									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									3,087	4,080	3,712
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									3,087	4,080	3,712
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									7	43	(234)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									3,094	4,123	3,478
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									0	0	0
Research and development expense									0	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense									0	0	0
Amortization of intangible assets									0	0	0
Restructuring charges, net									0	0	0
Certain litigation charges									0	0	0
Gain on sale of businesses										0
Other operating expense (income), net									(28)	0	0
Operating profit (loss)									28	0	0
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									(808)	(482)	(649)
Interest expense									511	234	62
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									(4,842)	(3,160)	(3,576)
Income (loss) before income taxes									5,167	3,408	4,163
Income tax (benefit) provision									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									5,167	3,408	4,163
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									5,167	3,408	4,163
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(972)	1,030	(745)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									4,195	4,438	3,418
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									0	0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									0	0	0
Research and development expense									0	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense									4	2	2
Amortization of intangible assets									0	0	0
Restructuring charges, net									0	0	0
Certain litigation charges									0	0	0
Gain on sale of businesses										0
Other operating expense (income), net									(27)	0	4
Operating profit (loss)									23	(2)	(6)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									(836)	(498)	(656)
Interest expense									511	234	62
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									(4,819)	(3,146)	(3,575)
Income (loss) before income taxes									5,167	3,408	4,163
Income tax (benefit) provision									0	0	0
Net income (loss)									5,167	3,408	4,163
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									5,167	3,408	4,163
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(972)	1,030	(745)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									0	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									4,195	4,438	3,418
Subsidiary Non-guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									30,558	29,952	29,708
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									8,833	8,884	9,152
Research and development expense									1,671	1,600	1,557
Selling, general, and administrative expense									8,931	8,810	8,698
Amortization of intangible assets									1,756	1,815	1,969
Restructuring charges, net									154	37	249
Certain litigation charges									111	37	300
Gain on sale of businesses										(697)
Other operating expense (income), net									3,085	3,156	3,024
Operating profit (loss)									6,017	6,310	4,759
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									(1,890)	(1,527)	(1,065)
Interest expense									912	788	865
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes									6,995	7,049	4,959
Income tax (benefit) provision									800	2,546	710
Net income (loss)									6,195	4,503	4,249
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(19)	9	4
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									6,176	4,512	4,253
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(882)	954	(928)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(16)	9	3
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									5,297	5,466	3,324
Subsidiary Non-guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales									30,557	29,953	29,710
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold									9,155	9,067	9,294
Research and development expense									2,330	2,256	2,193
Selling, general, and administrative expense									10,402	10,223	10,003
Amortization of intangible assets									1,764	1,823	1,980
Restructuring charges, net									198	30	303
Certain litigation charges									166	61	300
Gain on sale of businesses										(697)
Other operating expense (income), net									230	482	216
Operating profit (loss)									6,312	6,708	5,421
Other non-operating (income) expense, net									(830)	(346)	(380)
Interest expense									1,693	1,305	1,620
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries									0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes									5,449	5,749	4,181
Income tax (benefit) provision									554	2,587	586
Net income (loss)									4,895	3,162	3,595
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(19)	9	4
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic									4,876	3,171	3,599
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(1,060)	1,030	(744)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(16)	9	3
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic									$ 3,819	$ 4,201	$ 2,854