CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 24, 2020	Oct. 26, 2019	Oct. 24, 2020	Oct. 26, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,553,168	$ 1,418,744	$ 2,799,005	$ 2,747,395
Cost of sales	1,232,800	1,117,250	2,224,821	2,155,847
Gross profit	320,368	301,494	574,184	591,548
Operating expenses	246,662	319,640	462,606	593,020
Operating income (loss)	73,706	(18,146)	111,578	(1,472)
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	3,223	269	5,257	32,186
Interest expense	(6,381)	(9,046)	(13,072)	(17,736)
Income (loss) before taxes	70,548	(26,923)	103,763	12,978
Income tax expense	16,722	6,426	25,735	16,520
Net income (loss)	53,826	(33,349)	78,028	(3,542)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(234)	(220)	(439)	(455)
Net income (loss) attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 54,060	$ (33,129)	$ 78,467	$ (3,087)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.57	$ (0.35)	$ 0.82	$ (0.03)
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.56	$ (0.35)	$ 0.82	$ (0.03)
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	95,518	94,093	95,341	93,944
Diluted (in shares)	96,415	94,093	96,105	93,944
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26	$ 0.52	$ 0.52
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	$ 53,826	$ (33,349)	$ 78,028	$ (3,542)
Foreign currency translation gain	3,327	6,614	15,916	2,815
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	261	554	521	1,108
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 57,414	$ (26,181)	$ 94,465	$ 381