CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 26, 2019	Jan. 27, 2018	Jan. 26, 2019	Jan. 27, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,396,745	$ 1,375,222	$ 4,137,817	$ 4,065,074
Cost of sales	1,097,236	1,080,486	3,259,569	3,155,547
Gross profit	299,509	294,736	878,248	909,527
Operating expenses	254,146	244,690	787,155	730,889
Operating income	45,363	50,046	91,093	178,638
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	1,427	2,096	8,621	4,768
Interest expense	(9,172)	(11,783)	(29,849)	(34,454)
Income before taxes	37,618	40,359	69,865	148,952
Income tax expense (benefit)	6,564	(68,596)	14,674	(31,094)
Net income	31,054	108,955	55,191	180,046
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(171)	0	(447)	0
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 31,225	$ 108,955	$ 55,638	$ 180,046
Earnings per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.34	$ 1.18	$ 0.60	$ 1.94
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.33	$ 1.18	$ 0.60	$ 1.93
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	92,818	91,949	92,677	92,674
Diluted (in shares)	93,653	92,609	93,347	93,323
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26000	$ 0.26000	$ 0.78	$ 0.78
Comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	$ 3,184	$ 16,475	$ (9,676)	$ 24,594
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	548	437	1,649	1,312
Comprehensive income	$ 34,786	$ 125,867	$ 47,164	$ 205,952