EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014
EARNINGS PER SHARE [Abstract]
Redemption basis			one-for-one
Period to hold the beneficial interest, minimum			1 year
NUMERATOR [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations - Investors Real Estate Trust	$ 2,749	$ 5,533	$ 7,909	$ 4,862
Income from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust	13,917	(419)	13,297	101
Net income attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust	16,666	5,114	21,206	4,963
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(2,878)	(2,878)	(5,757)	(5,757)
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	13,788	2,236	15,449	(794)
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership	1,527	363	1,713	(39)
Numerator for diluted earnings per share	$ 15,315	$ 2,599	$ 17,162	$ (833)
DENOMINATOR [Abstract]
Denominator for basic earnings per share weighted average shares (in shares)	124,665	117,034	124,757	114,033
Effect of convertible operating partnership units (in shares)	13,900	16,261	13,929	18,565
Denominator for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	138,565	133,295	138,686	132,598
Earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ 0.02	$ 0.02	$ (0.01)
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	0.11	0	0.10	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC & DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.02	$ 0.12	$ (0.01)