CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Capital Contributed in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Shareholders' equity attributable to Culp Inc.	Non-Controlling Interest Discontinued Operation
Balance at Apr. 29, 2018	$ 163,376	$ 623	$ 48,203	$ 114,635	$ (85)	$ 163,376
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 29, 2018		12,450,276
net income (loss)	5,458			5,676		5,676	$ (218)
acquisition of subsidiary with non-controlling interest - discontinued operation	4,532						4,532
stock-based compensation	130		130			130
unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedge instrument	55				55	55
unrealized gain (loss) on investments	70				70	70
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance-based restricted stock units		$ 7	(7)
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance based restricted stock units (in shares)		136,996
immediately vested common stock awards (shares)		6,548
common stock issued in connection with vesting of time-based restricted stock units (in shares)		1,200
common stock surrendered in connection with payroll withholding taxes	(1,319)	$ (2)	(1,317)			(1,319)
common stock surrendered in connection with payroll withholding taxes, in shares		(43,037)
common stock repurchased	(3,323)	$ (8)	(3,315)			(3,323)
common stock repurchased (in shares)		(160,823)
dividends paid	(4,732)			(4,732)		(4,732)
Balance at Apr. 28, 2019	164,247	$ 620	43,694	115,579	40	159,933	4,314
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 28, 2019		12,391,160
net income (loss)	(28,667)			(23,993)		(23,993)	(4,674)
capital contribution from non-controlling interest - discontinued operation	360						$ 360
stock-based compensation	614		614			614
unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(50)				(50)	(50)
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance-based restricted stock units		$ 1	(1)
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance based restricted stock units (in shares)		15,638
immediately vested common stock awards		$ 1	(1)
immediately vested common stock awards (shares)		23,664
common stock surrendered in connection with payroll withholding taxes	(51)		(51)			(51)
common stock surrendered in connection with payroll withholding taxes, in shares		(3,020)
common stock repurchased	(1,680)	$ (7)	(1,673)			(1,680)
common stock repurchased (in shares)		(142,496)
dividends paid	(5,075)			(5,075)		(5,075)
Balance at May. 03, 2020	129,698	$ 615	42,582	86,511	(10)	129,698
Balance (in shares) at May. 03, 2020		12,284,946
net income (loss)	3,218			3,218		3,218
stock-based compensation	1,251		1,251			1,251
unrealized gain (loss) on investments	156				156	156
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance based restricted stock units (in shares)		8,843
immediately vested common stock awards		$ 1	(1)
immediately vested common stock awards (shares)		21,220
common stock surrendered in connection with payroll withholding taxes	(25)		(25)			(25)
common stock surrendered in connection with payroll withholding taxes, in shares		(2,187)
dividends paid	(5,292)			(5,292)		(5,292)
Balance at May. 02, 2021	$ 129,006	$ 616	$ 43,807	$ 84,437	$ 146	$ 129,006
Balance (in shares) at May. 02, 2021		12,312,822