Segment Reporting (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Oct. 29, 2011

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Summarized Financial Information Of Reportable Segments

Sales

	13 weeks ended				26 weeks ended
	October 29,		October 30,		October 29,		October 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
B&N Retail	$	917,576	$	930,793	$	1,918,141	$	1,957,062
B&N College		768,463		796,650		988,254		1,021,512
B&N.com		205,922		176,703		403,970		321,415
Total	$	1,891,961	$	1,904,146	$	3,310,365	$	3,299,989

Depreciation and Amortization

	13 weeks ended				26 weeks ended
	October 29,		October 30,		October 29,		October 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
B&N Retail	$	38,884	$	39,919	$	76,821	$	79,321
B&N College		11,426		10,758		22,276		21,326
B&N.com		7,445		6,100		14,330		13,034
Total	$	57,755	$	56,777	$	113,427	$	113,681

Operating Profit (Loss)

	13 weeks ended						26 weeks ended
	October 29, 2011			October 30, 2010			October 29, 2011			October 30, 2010
B&N Retail	$	(17,867	)	$	(38,654	)	$	(10,286	)	$	(52,535	)
B&N College		82,478			84,523			60,826			64,422
B&N.com		(66,334	)		(56,348	)		(131,495	)		(109,979	)
Total	$	(1,723	)	$	(10,479	)	$	(80,955	)	$	(98,092	)

Capital Expenditures

	13 weeks ended				26 weeks ended
	October 29, 2011		October 30, 2010		October 29, 2011		October 30, 2010
B&N Retail	$	20,829	$	13,756	$	30,838	$	23,620
B&N College		12,464		9,191		21,397		16,368
B&N.com		15,598		7,078		23,281		11,461
Total	$	48,891	$	30,025	$	75,516	$	51,449

Total Assets

	October 29, 2011		October 30, 2010
B&N Retail	$	2,541,746	$	2,518,279
B&N College		1,319,323		1,260,014
B&N.com		246,983		240,973
Total	$	4,108,052	$	4,019,266

Reconciliation Of Operating Loss From Reportable Segments

	13 weeks ended						26 weeks ended
	October 29, 2011			October 30, 2010			October 29, 2011			October 30, 2010
Reportable segments operating loss	$	(1,723	)	$	(10,479	)	$	(80,955	)	$	(98,092	)
Interest, net		8,460			12,791			17,901			26,053
Consolidated loss before taxes	$	(10,183	)	$	(23,270	)	$	(98,856	)	$	(124,145	)