CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 25, 2020	Jul. 27, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,245,837	$ 1,328,651
Cost of sales	992,021	1,038,597
Gross profit	253,816	290,054
Operating expenses	215,944	273,380
Operating income	37,872	16,674
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	2,034	31,917
Interest expense	(6,691)	(8,690)
Income before taxes	33,215	39,901
Income tax expense	9,013	10,094
Net income	24,202	29,807
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(205)	(235)
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 24,407	$ 30,042
Earnings per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.32
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.32
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	95,189	93,795
Diluted (in shares)	95,843	94,623
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 24,202	$ 29,807
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	12,589	(3,799)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	260	554
Comprehensive income	$ 37,051	$ 26,562