CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 25, 2020	Apr. 27, 2019	Apr. 28, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 5,490,011	$ 5,574,523	$ 5,465,683
Cost of sales	4,292,601	4,383,748	4,266,317
Gross profit	1,197,410	1,190,775	1,199,366
Operating expenses	1,094,474	1,053,059	979,477
Goodwill impairment	675,055	0	0
Operating (loss) income	(572,119)	137,716	219,889
Other (expense) income:
Other income, net	23,499	8,178	6,117
Interest expense	(41,787)	(39,666)	(46,743)
(Loss) income before taxes	(590,407)	106,228	179,263
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,040)	23,352	(21,711)
Net (loss) income	(589,367)	82,876	200,974
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(921)	(752)	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ (588,446)	$ 83,628	$ 200,974
(Loss) earnings per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ (6.25)	$ 0.90	$ 2.17
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ (6.25)	$ 0.89	$ 2.16
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	94,154	92,755	92,467
Diluted (in shares)	94,154	93,484	93,094
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 1.04	$ 1.04	$ 1.04
Comprehensive (loss) income
Net (loss) income	$ (589,367)	$ 82,876	$ 200,974
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain	(14,062)	(15,583)	15,824
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	7,999	2,288	1,871
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ (595,430)	$ 69,581	$ 218,669