Segment Reporting (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Summarized Financial Information Of Reportable Segments

Sales	13 weeks ended				39 weeks ended
	January 28,		January 29,		January 28,		January 29,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
B&N Retail	$	1,494,050	$	1,464,457	$	3,412,191	$	3,421,519
B&N College		524,604		539,893		1,512,859		1,561,404
B&N.com		420,470		319,430		824,440		640,845
Total	$	2,439,124	$	2,323,780	$	5,749,490	$	5,623,768

Depreciation and Amortization	13 weeks ended				39 weeks ended
	January 28,		January 29,		January 28,		January 29,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
B&N Retail	$	40,590	$	40,052	$	117,411	$	119,372
B&N College		11,484		10,821		33,760		32,147
B&N.com		8,199		6,137		22,530		19,172
Total	$	60,273	$	57,010	$	173,701	$	170,691

Operating Profit (Loss)	13 weeks ended						39 weeks ended
	January 28,			January 29,			January 28,			January 29,
	2012			2011			2012			2011
B&N Retail	$	166,331		$	137,540		$	156,047		$	85,006
B&N College		25,214			32,192			86,040			96,614
B&N.com		(101,872	)		(56,601	)		(233,368	)		(166,581	)
Total	$	89,673		$	113,131		$	8,719		$	15,039

Capital Expenditures	13 weeks ended				39 weeks ended
	January 28,		January 29,		January 28,		January 29,
	2012		2011		2012		2011
B&N Retail	$	26,590	$	16,634	$	57,428	$	40,254
B&N College		8,646		8,510		30,043		24,878
B&N.com		12,719		5,479		36,000		16,940
Total	$	47,955	$	30,623	$	123,471	$	82,072

Total Assets	January 28, 2012		January 29, 2011
B&N Retail	$	2,603,027	$	2,431,407
B&N College		1,369,474		1,317,920
B&N.com		217,372		247,293
Total	$	4,189,873	$	3,996,620

Reconciliation Of Operating Profit (Loss) From Reportable Segments

	13 weeks ended				39 weeks ended
	January 28,		January 29,		January 28,			January 29,
	2012		2011		2012			2011
Reportable segments operating profit	$	89,673	$	113,131	$	8,719		$	15,039
Interest, net		8,773		13,639		26,675			39,693
Consolidated income (loss) before taxes	$	80,900	$	99,492	$	(17,956	)	$	(24,654	)