Document And Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Feb. 29, 2012
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 28, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	BARNES & NOBLE INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000890491
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	bks
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		60,195,555