CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 24, 2021	Apr. 25, 2020	Apr. 27, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 5,912,066	$ 5,490,011	$ 5,574,523
Cost of sales	4,708,936	4,292,601	4,383,748
Gross profit	1,203,130	1,197,410	1,190,775
Operating expenses	992,523	1,094,474	1,053,059
Goodwill impairment	0	675,055	0
Operating income (loss)	210,607	(572,119)	137,716
Other (expense) income:
Other income, net	13,608	23,499	8,178
Interest expense	(24,284)	(41,787)	(39,666)
Income (loss) before taxes	199,931	(590,407)	106,228
Income tax expense (benefit)	44,822	(1,040)	23,352
Net income (loss)	155,109	(589,367)	82,876
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(872)	(921)	(752)
Net income (loss) attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 155,981	$ (588,446)	$ 83,628
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 1.63	$ (6.25)	$ 0.90
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 1.61	$ (6.25)	$ 0.89
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	95,599	94,154	92,755
Diluted (in shares)	96,664	94,154	93,484
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 1.04	$ 1.04	$ 1.04
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss)	$ 155,109	$ (589,367)	$ 82,876
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	33,405	(14,062)	(15,583)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	1,042	7,999	2,288
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 189,556	$ (595,430)	$ 69,581