CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2023	Oct. 29, 2022	Oct. 28, 2023	Oct. 29, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,652,772	$ 1,626,204	$ 3,229,517	$ 3,149,469
Cost of sales	1,313,746	1,298,115	2,571,436	2,509,247
Gross profit	339,026	328,089	658,081	640,222
Operating expenses	282,123	267,994	562,956	545,283
Operating income	56,903	60,095	95,125	94,939
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	7,096	18,203	18,997	19,983
Interest expense	(10,642)	(7,544)	(20,154)	(13,107)
Income before taxes	53,357	70,754	93,968	101,815
Income tax expense	13,502	17,105	22,983	23,906
Net income	39,855	53,649	70,985	77,909
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(103)	(424)	(207)	(754)
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 39,958	$ 54,073	$ 71,192	$ 78,663
Earnings per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in USD per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.56	$ 0.75	$ 0.81
Diluted (in USD per share)	$ 0.42	$ 0.55	$ 0.74	$ 0.81
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	94,710	96,913	95,127	96,771
Diluted (in shares)	95,156	97,552	95,722	97,708
Dividends declared per common share (in USD per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.26	$ 0.52	$ 0.52
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)	$ 39,855	$ 53,649	$ 70,985	$ 77,909
Foreign currency translation loss	(17,589)	(17,591)	(10,221)	(22,582)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	260	260	521	521
Comprehensive income	$ 22,526	$ 36,318	$ 61,285	$ 55,848