CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 27, 2019	Apr. 28, 2018	Apr. 29, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 5,574,523	$ 5,465,683	$ 5,593,127
Cost of sales	4,383,748	4,266,317	4,291,730
Gross profit	1,190,775	1,199,366	1,301,397
Operating expenses	1,053,059	979,477	1,013,469
Operating income from continuing operations	137,716	219,889	287,928
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	8,178	6,117	6,013
Interest expense	(39,666)	(46,743)	(43,060)
Income from continuing operations before taxes	106,228	179,263	250,881
Income tax expense (benefit)	23,352	(21,711)	77,093
Net income from continuing operations	82,876	200,974	173,788
Net loss from discontinued operations	0	0	(2,895)
Net income	82,876	200,974	170,893
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(752)	0	0
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 83,628	$ 200,974	$ 170,893
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Continuing operations (in usd per share)	$ 0.90	$ 2.17	$ 1.83
Discontinued operations (in usd per share)	0	0	(0.03)
Basic (in usd per share)	0.90	2.17	1.80
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Continuing operations (in usd per share)	0.89	2.16	1.82
Discontinued operations (in usd per share)	0	0	(0.03)
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.89	$ 2.16	$ 1.79
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	92,755	92,467	94,897
Diluted (in shares)	93,484	93,094	95,567
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 1.04	$ 1.04	$ 0.98
Comprehensive income
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 83,628	$ 200,974	$ 170,893
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(15,583)	15,824	(26,450)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	2,288	1,871	1,745
Comprehensive income	$ 69,581	$ 218,669	$ 146,188