Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Income (Loss) Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2015	Nov. 01, 2014	Oct. 31, 2015	Nov. 01, 2014
Numerator for basic income (loss) per share:
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.		$ (27,203)	$ (5,109)	$ (34,954)	$ (3,086)
Inducement fee paid upon conversion of Series J preferred stock				(3,657)
Preferred stock dividends			(3,941)		(7,883)
Preferred stock dividends paid in shares				(1,783)
Accretion of dividends on preferred stock			(758)	(4,204)	(1,516)
Less allocation of dividends to participating securities		(332)		(692)
Less allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			587
Net loss from continuing operations available to common shareholders		(27,535)	(9,221)	(45,290)	(12,485)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.		(12,023)	17,407	(39,146)	(13,065)
Less allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			(1,042)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		(12,023)	16,365	(39,146)	(13,065)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders		(39,558)	7,144	(84,436)	(25,550)
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Net loss from continuing operations available to common shareholders		(27,535)	(9,221)	(45,290)	(12,485)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations available to common shareholders		(12,023)	17,407	(39,146)	(13,065)
Net loss from continuing operations available to common shareholders		(27,535)	(9,221)	(45,290)	(12,485)
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders		(39,558)	7,144	(84,436)	(25,550)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		$ (12,023)	$ 16,365	$ (39,146)	$ (13,065)
Denominator for basic income (loss) per share:
Basic weighted average common shares		75,557	59,343	70,552	59,289
Denominator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Basic weighted average common shares		75,557	59,343	70,552	59,289
Preferred shares	[1]	0	0	0	0
Average dilutive options	[1]	0	0	0	0
Diluted weighted average common shares		75,557	59,343	70,552	59,289
Basic income (loss) per common share:
Loss from continuing operations		$ (0.36)	$ (0.16)	$ (0.64)	$ (0.21)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(0.16)	0.28	(0.55)	(0.22)
Basic income (loss) per common share		(0.52)	0.12	(1.20)	(0.43)
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
Loss from continuing operations		(0.36)	(0.16)	(0.64)	(0.21)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations		(0.16)	0.28	(0.55)	(0.22)
Diluted income (loss) per common share		$ (0.52)	$ 0.12	$ (1.20)	$ (0.43)
Continuing Operations
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Preferred stock dividends	[1]	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Accretion of dividends on preferred stock	[1]	0	0	0	0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			(587)
Less diluted allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			(587)
Discontinued Operations
Numerator for basic income (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.		(12,023)	16,365	(39,146)	(13,065)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		(12,023)	16,365	(39,146)	(13,065)
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			1,042
Less diluted allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			(1,042)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations available to common shareholders		(12,023)	16,365	(39,146)	(13,065)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations		$ (12,023)	$ 16,365	$ (39,146)	$ (13,065)

[1] Although the Company was in a net income position during the 13 weeks ended November 1, 2014, the dilutive effect of the Company's convertible preferred shares and stock options were excluded from the calculation of income per share using the two-class method because the effect would be antidilutive.