EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
EARNINGS PER SHARE [Abstract]
Ratio of units exchanged for shares									one-for-one basis
Minimum holding period									1 year
NUMERATOR [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations - Investors Real Estate Trust									$ 20,600	$ 15,996	$ 6,065
Income from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust									51,406	8,091	(19,239)
Net income (loss) attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust	$ 11,003	$ 39,797	$ 16,666	$ 4,540	$ 10,753	$ 8,371	$ 5,114	$ (151)	72,006	24,087	(13,174)
Dividends to preferred shareholders									(11,514)	(11,514)	(11,514)
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 8,125	$ 36,918	$ 13,788	$ 1,661	$ 7,875	$ 5,492	$ 2,236	$ (3,030)	60,492	12,573	(24,688)
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership									7,032	1,526	(4,676)
Numerator for diluted earnings (loss) per share									$ 67,524	$ 14,099	$ (29,364)
DENOMINATOR [Abstract]
Denominator for basic earnings per share weighted average shares (in shares)									123,094	118,004	105,331
Effect of convertible operating partnership units (in shares)									14,278	16,594	21,697
Denominator for diluted earnings per share (in shares)									137,372	134,598	127,028
(Loss) earnings per common share from continuing operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)									$ 0.08	$ 0.04	$ (0.05)
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)									0.41	0.07	(0.18)
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC & DILUTED (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ 0.30	$ 0.11	$ 0.01	$ 0.07	$ 0.05	$ 0.02	$ (0.03)	$ 0.49	$ 0.11	$ (0.23)