Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2018	Oct. 31, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Oct. 27, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	BKS
Entity Registrant Name	BARNES & NOBLE INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000890491
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-29
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small business	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		73,169,887