Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	May 02, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 816.5	$ 809.1	$ 881.1
Cost of products sold	598.2	596.2	662.3
Gross profit	218.3	212.9	218.8
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0.0	0.0	11.1
Selling and administrative expenses	105.2	100.8	94.0
Amortization of intangibles	2.3	2.4	1.5
Income from operations	110.8	109.7	112.2
Gain from sale of business	0.0	0.0	(7.7)
Interest income, net	(0.4)	(0.7)	(0.7)
Other income	(4.7)	(0.5)	(0.2)
Income/(loss) before income taxes	115.9	110.9	120.8
Income tax expense	23.0	26.3	19.8
Net income	92.9	84.6	101.0
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	0.0	0.0	(0.1)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.	$ 92.9	$ 84.6	$ 101.1
Basic and diluted income per share:
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.49	$ 2.21	$ 2.61
Diluted income per share (in dollars per share)	2.48	2.20	2.57
Cash dividends per share:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.36