Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2013	Oct. 28, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 28, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	CFI
Entity Registrant Name	CULP INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000723603
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-28
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	12,224,894
Entity Public Float		$ 119,511,612