Stock Appreciation Rights (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2015

SARS [Abstract]

Stock Appreciation Rights Vesting Schedule [Table Text Block]

Number of Years the Grantee has remained a Torotel director following the Date of Grant	Shares represented by a SAR in which a Grantee is Vested
Under one	—	%
At least one but less than two	33	%
At least two but less than three	67	%
Three or more	100	%

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights Award Activity [Table Text Block]

	2014
	SARs Under Option	Weighted Average Grant Price
Outstanding at beginning of period	320,000	$	0.409
Granted	40,000	$	0.410
Exercised	—	$	—
Terminated	80,000	$	0.387
Outstanding at end of period	280,000	$	0.415
SARs exercisable at end of period	280,000	$	0.415
Weighted average fair value of SARs granted during the period		$	0.410

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]

	2014
Number outstanding	280,000
Range of grant prices, upper limit	$	0.695
Range of grant prices, lower limit	$	0.208
Weighted average grant price	$	0.415
Weighted average contractual life remaining (in years)	0.290
10-day average market price	$	1.194
Weighted average stock volatility	136.35		%
Weighted average expected life	0.240
Weighted average risk free rate	—		%
Weighted average dividend yield	—		%
Weighted average fair value price	$	0.710
Aggregate fair value	$	213,000
Aggregate intrinsic value	$	204,000
Total compensation expense (credit) for three months ended January 31	$	(69,000	)
Total compensation expense (credit) for nine months ended January 31	$	148,000
Unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested SARs granted	$	—
Expected period to recognize compensation expense related to non-vested SARs granted (in years)	—
Total liability for SARs on consolidated balance sheets	$	213,000