CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2022	Apr. 24, 2021	Apr. 25, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 6,499,405,000	$ 5,912,066,000	$ 5,490,011,000
Cost of sales	5,210,318,000	4,708,936,000	4,292,601,000
Gross profit	1,289,087,000	1,203,130,000	1,197,410,000
Operating expenses	1,132,085,000	992,523,000	1,094,474,000
Goodwill impairment	0	0	675,055,000
Operating income (loss)	157,002,000	210,607,000	(572,119,000)
Gains on investments	101,809,000	0	34,334,000
Other income (expense):
Other income (expense), net	27,731,000	13,608,000	(10,835,000)
Interest expense	(20,288,000)	(24,284,000)	(41,787,000)
Income (loss) before taxes	266,254,000	199,931,000	(590,407,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)	64,540,000	44,822,000	(1,040,000)
Net income (loss)	201,714,000	155,109,000	(589,367,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,496,000)	(872,000)	(921,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 203,210,000	$ 155,981,000	$ (588,446,000)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 2.09	$ 1.63	$ (6.25)
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 2.06	$ 1.61	$ (6.25)
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	97,277	95,599	94,154
Diluted (in shares)	98,514	96,664	94,154
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 1.04	$ 1.04	$ 1.04
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss)	$ 201,714,000	$ 155,109,000	$ (589,367,000)
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(19,966,000)	33,405,000	(14,062,000)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	1,042,000	1,042,000	7,999,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 182,790,000	$ 189,556,000	$ (595,430,000)