Dividends [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	culp_DividendsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	culp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the declared dividend will be paid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendPayableDateToBePaidDayMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the holder must own the stock to be entitled to the dividend, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsPayableDateOfRecordDayMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash outflow in the form of capital distributions and dividends to common shareholders, preferred shareholders and noncontrolling interests.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsAxis=culp_SpecialDividendMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DividendsAxis=culp_QuarterlyDividendMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Dividend Program (Detail) - USD ($)			3 Months Ended
Dividend Program (Detail) - USD ($)	Aug. 30, 2017	Jun. 13, 2017	Jul. 30, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Dividends [Line Items]
Cash dividends paid			$ 3,608,000	$ 3,445,000
Special Dividend [Member]
Dividends [Line Items]
Cash dividend declared, per share		$ 0.21
Cash dividends paid			$ 2,600,000	$ 2,500,000
Cash dividend payment, per share			$ 0.21	$ 0.21
Quarterly Dividend [Member]
Dividends [Line Items]
Cash dividend declared, per share		$ 0.08
Date of payment to shareholders entitled to dividends		Jul. 17, 2017
Date of record of shareholders entitled to dividends		Jul. 03, 2017
Cash dividends paid			$ 1,000,000	$ 861,000
Cash dividend payment, per share			$ 0.08	$ 0.07
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Quarterly Dividend [Member]
Dividends [Line Items]
Cash dividend declared, per share	$ 0.08
Date of payment to shareholders entitled to dividends	Oct. 16, 2017
Date of record of shareholders entitled to dividends	Oct. 02, 2017