Intangible Assets and Goodwill - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2018	Jan. 27, 2018	Jan. 27, 2018	Dec. 30, 2017	Oct. 29, 2017	Apr. 29, 2017	Jan. 28, 2017
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 73,769	$ 73,769	$ 73,769			$ 207,381	$ 211,276
Goodwill impairment	133,612	133,612	133,612
B&N Retail
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill					$ 207,381
Amount of fair value in excess of carrying amount					$ 26,800
Percentage of fair value in excess of carrying amount					5.00%
Goodwill impairment		133,612
50% basis point decline in longterm growth rates, goodwill, impairment loss		10,100
100% basis point increase in longterm growth rates, goodwill, impairment loss		23,500
Nook | Trade name
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	0	0	0
Amount of fair value in excess of carrying amount				$ 23,500	$ 17,100
Percentage of fair value in excess of carrying amount				8.00%	5.00%
800% basis point decline in longterm growth rates, goodwill, impairment loss		1,900
200% basis point increase in longterm growth rates, goodwill, impairment loss		29,300
Nook | Publishing contracts
Goodwill [Line Items]
Amount of fair value in excess of carrying amount	$ 4,200	$ 4,200	$ 4,200
Percentage of fair value in excess of carrying amount	26.00%	26.00%	26.00%