CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 27, 2024	Apr. 29, 2023	Apr. 30, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 6,568,272	$ 6,471,471	$ 6,499,405
Cost of sales	5,188,030	5,098,526	5,210,318
Gross profit	1,380,242	1,372,945	1,289,087
Operating expenses	1,127,318	1,096,974	1,132,085
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0
Operating income	252,924	275,971	157,002
Gains on investments	0	0	101,809
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	35,039	27,826	27,731
Interest expense	(44,910)	(33,636)	(20,288)
Income before taxes	243,053	270,161	266,254
Income tax expense	57,534	63,563	64,540
Net income	185,519	206,598	201,714
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(412)	(959)	(1,496)
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 185,931	$ 207,557	$ 203,210
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 2.00	$ 2.14	$ 2.09
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 1.98	$ 2.12	$ 2.06
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	92,969	97,027	97,277
Diluted (in shares)	93,679	97,815	98,514
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 1.04	$ 1.04	$ 1.04
Comprehensive income
Net income	$ 185,519	$ 206,598	$ 201,714
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(1,695)	(8,788)	(19,966)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	1,042	1,042	1,042
Comprehensive income	$ 184,866	$ 198,852	$ 182,790