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History of B&N Education, Inc. - Additional Information (Detail)
Dec. 22, 2014
Oct. 04, 2012
Jan. 31, 2015
Jan. 22, 2013
B&N Education, LLC        
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]        
Percentage of non controlling interest   17.60%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= bks_BnEducationLimitedLiabilityCorporationMember		    
Percentage of membership interest 100.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= bks_BnEducationLimitedLiabilityCorporationMember		 82.40%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= bks_BnEducationLimitedLiabilityCorporationMember		    
Pearson Plc        
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]        
Percentage of membership interest     5.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= bks_PearsonPlcMember		 5.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= bks_PearsonPlcMember