CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2022	Jul. 31, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,523,265	$ 1,614,876
Cost of sales	1,211,132	1,337,074
Gross profit	312,133	277,802
Operating expenses	277,289	317,331
Operating income (loss)	34,844	(39,529)
Other income (expense):
Gains on investments	0	87,827
Other income, net	1,780	1,423
Interest expense	(5,563)	(5,195)
Income before taxes	31,061	44,526
Income tax expense	6,801	10,724
Net income	24,260	33,802
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(330)	(194)
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 24,590	$ 33,996
Earnings per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.35
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.35
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	96,629	96,864
Diluted (in shares)	97,794	98,255
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 24,260	$ 33,802
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain	(4,991)	324
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	261	261
Comprehensive income	$ 19,530	$ 34,387