Microsoft Investment - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 03, 2014	May 03, 2014	Jan. 25, 2014	Apr. 27, 2012
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price paid in cash	$ 76,175
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001		$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Settlement of Microsoft commercial liability	197,316
Microsoft | Commitment
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Advance payments	60,000
Microsoft | Other Commitment
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Advance payments	25,000
B&N Education, LLC
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price		124,850
Percentage of business contingent payment agreement		22.70%
Business contingent payment agreement, Description		the parties entered into a Digital Business Contingent Payment Agreement pursuant to which Microsoft is entitled to receive 22.7% of the proceeds from, among other events or transactions, (1) any future dividends or other distributions received from Barnes & Noble’s NOOK digital business at any time until the date that is three years from the closing, subject to a one year extension under certain circumstances, and (2) the sale of Barnes & Noble’s NOOK digital business at any time until the date that is three years from the closing, subject to a one year extension under certain circumstances.
B&N Education, LLC | Common Stock
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price, paid by shares	2,737,290	2,737,290
Common stock, par value		$ 0.001
B&N Education, LLC | Series A Preferred
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued, aggregate purchase price		300,000
Aggregate purchase price paid in cash		62,425
B&N Education, LLC | Morrison | Series A Preferred
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issued					300,000
Preferred stock issued, aggregate purchase price					$ 300,000
B&N Education, LLC | Microsoft
Subsidiary, Sale of Stock [Line Items]
Percentage of common membership interest					17.60%