Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2012

Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Abstract]

Reconciliation Of Basic And Diluted Loss Per Share

	13 weeks ended						39 weeks ended
	January 28, 2012			January 29, 2011			January 28, 2012			January 29, 2011
Numerator for basic income (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.	$	52,031			60,583		$	(11,138	)		(14,503	)
Accrual of preferred stock dividends		(3,963	)		—			(7,081	)		—
Accretion of dividends on preferred stock		(316	)		—			(578	)		—
Less allocation of earnings and dividends to participating securities		(2,735	)		(3,329	)		—			—
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$	45,017			57,254		$	(18,797	)		(14,503	)
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$	45,017			57,254		$	(18,797	)		(14,503	)
Accrual of preferred stock dividends		3,963			—			—			—
Accretion of dividends on preferred stock		316			—			—			—
Effect of dilutive options		3			6			—			—
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders	$	49,299			57,260		$	(18,797	)		(14,503	)
Denominator for basic income (loss) per share:
Basic weighted average common shares		57,371			56,894			57,261			56,457
Denominator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Basic weighted average common shares		57,371			56,894			57,261			56,457
Preferred shares		12,000			—			—			—
Average dilutive options		76			142			—			—
Diluted weighted average common shares		69,447			57,036			57,261			56,457
Basic income (loss) per common share
Net income (loss) attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc. available for common shareholders	$	0.78			1.01		$	(0.33	)		(0.26	)
Diluted income (loss) per common share
Net income (loss) attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc. available for common shareholders	$	0.71			1.00		$	(0.33	)		(0.26	)