CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 26, 2019	Oct. 27, 2018	Oct. 26, 2019	Oct. 27, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,418,744	$ 1,404,752	$ 2,747,395	$ 2,741,072
Cost of sales	1,117,250	1,109,676	2,155,847	2,162,333
Gross profit	301,494	295,076	591,548	578,739
Operating expenses	319,640	253,860	593,020	533,009
Operating income (loss)	(18,146)	41,216	(1,472)	45,730
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	269	5,941	32,186	7,194
Interest expense	(9,046)	(9,456)	(17,736)	(20,677)
Income (loss) before taxes	(26,923)	37,701	12,978	32,247
Income tax expense	6,426	9,055	16,520	8,110
Net income (loss)	(33,349)	28,646	(3,542)	24,137
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(220)	(223)	(455)	(276)
Net income (loss) attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ (33,129)	$ 28,869	$ (3,087)	$ 24,413
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.31	$ (0.03)	$ 0.26
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ (0.35)	$ 0.31	$ (0.03)	$ 0.26
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	94,093	92,683	93,944	92,606
Diluted (in shares)	94,093	93,289	93,944	93,144
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26	$ 0.52	$ 0.52
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	$ (33,349)	$ 28,646	$ (3,542)	$ 24,137
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	6,614	(3,540)	2,815	(12,860)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	554	552	1,108	1,101
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (26,181)	$ 25,658	$ 381	$ 12,378