CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2019	Jul. 28, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,328,651	$ 1,336,320
Cost of sales	1,038,597	1,052,657
Gross profit	290,054	283,663
Operating expenses	273,380	279,149
Operating income	16,674	4,514
Other income (expense):
Other income (expense), net	31,917	1,253
Interest expense	(8,690)	(11,221)
Income (loss) before taxes	39,901	(5,454)
Income tax expense (benefit)	10,094	(945)
Net income (loss)	29,807	(4,509)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(235)	(53)
Net income (loss) attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 30,042	$ (4,456)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.32	$ (0.05)
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.32	$ (0.05)
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	93,795	92,529
Diluted (in shares)	94,623	92,529
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26
Comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	$ (3,799)	$ (9,320)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	554	549
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 26,562	$ (13,280)