EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016
EARNINGS PER SHARE [Abstract]
Ratio of units exchanged for shares			one-for-one
Minimum holding period			1 year
NUMERATOR [Abstract]
(Loss) income from continuing operations – Investors Real Estate Trust	$ 2,229	$ 5,495	$ (20,259)	$ 10,836
Income from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust	20,881	34,302	33,326	50,167
Net income (loss) attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust	23,110	39,797	13,067	61,003
Dividends to preferred shareholders	(2,503)	(2,879)	(8,260)	(8,636)
Preferred Stock Redemption Premium	1,435		1,435
Redemption of preferred shares	(1,435)		(1,435)
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	19,172	36,918	3,372	52,367
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership	2,525	4,227	403	5,940
Numerator for diluted (loss) earnings per share	$ 21,697	$ 41,145	$ 3,775	$ 58,307
DENOMINATOR [Abstract]
Denominator for basic earnings per share weighted average shares (in shares)	121,255	121,864	121,175	123,793
Effect of convertible operating partnership units (in shares)	16,120	13,877	16,229	13,913
Denominator for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	137,375	135,741	137,404	137,706
(Loss) earnings per common share from continuing operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.02	$ (0.24)	$ 0.02
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	0.17	0.28	0.27	0.40
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE – BASIC & DILUTED	$ 0.16	$ 0.30	$ 0.03	$ 0.42