CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2023	Jan. 29, 2022	Jan. 28, 2023	Jan. 29, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,600,850	$ 1,596,596	$ 4,750,319	$ 4,860,633
Cost of sales	1,257,888	1,259,985	3,767,135	3,919,785
Gross profit	342,962	336,611	983,184	940,848
Operating expenses	267,040	275,778	812,323	856,684
Operating income	75,922	60,833	170,861	84,164
Other income (expense):
Gains on investments	0	13,092	0	100,919
Other income, net	3,096	6,186	23,079	14,413
Interest expense	(9,731)	(4,879)	(22,838)	(15,595)
Income before taxes	69,287	75,232	171,102	183,901
Income tax expense	15,440	18,657	39,346	45,586
Net income	53,847	56,575	131,756	138,315
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(82)	(431)	(836)	(1,017)
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 53,929	$ 57,006	$ 132,592	$ 139,332
Earnings per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.58	$ 1.37	$ 1.43
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.55	$ 0.58	$ 1.35	$ 1.42
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	97,327	97,471	96,957	97,213
Diluted (in shares)	97,977	98,554	97,881	98,450
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26	$ 0.78	$ 0.78
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 53,847	$ 56,575	$ 131,756	$ 138,315
Foreign currency translation (loss) gain	14,197	(6,506)	(8,385)	(5,742)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	261	261	782	782
Comprehensive income	$ 68,305	$ 50,330	$ 124,153	$ 133,355