CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2020	Jan. 26, 2019	Jan. 25, 2020	Jan. 26, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,456,155	$ 1,396,745	$ 4,203,550	$ 4,137,817
Cost of sales	1,144,325	1,097,236	3,300,172	3,259,569
Gross profit	311,830	299,509	903,378	878,248
Operating expenses	268,014	254,146	861,034	787,155
Operating income	43,816	45,363	42,344	91,093
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	2,307	1,427	34,493	8,621
Interest expense	(16,584)	(9,172)	(34,320)	(29,849)
Income before taxes	29,539	37,618	42,517	69,865
Income tax expense	6,567	6,564	23,087	14,674
Net income	22,972	31,054	19,430	55,191
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(255)	(171)	(710)	(447)
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 23,227	$ 31,225	$ 20,140	$ 55,638
Earnings per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.34	$ 0.21	$ 0.60
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.24	$ 0.33	$ 0.21	$ 0.60
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	94,267	92,818	94,052	92,677
Diluted (in shares)	95,021	93,653	94,828	93,347
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26	$ 0.78	$ 0.78
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 22,972	$ 31,054	$ 19,430	$ 55,191
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	2,619	3,184	5,434	(9,676)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	6,627	548	7,735	1,649
Comprehensive income	$ 32,218	$ 34,786	$ 32,599	$ 47,164