Commitments and Contingencies - Schedule of Maximum Potential Future Payments under Financing Arrangements with Third Parties (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 25, 2013	Apr. 26, 2013
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Maximum guaranteed payment contingencies	$ 215.6	$ 182.4
Deferred revenue associated with financing guarantees	(2,931.9)	(3,009.5)
Maximum potential future payments relating to financing guarantees, net of associated deferred revenue	16.6	13.8
Financing Guarantee
Guarantor Obligations [Line Items]
Deferred revenue associated with financing guarantees	$ (199.0)	$ (168.6)

Maximum potential future payments relating to financing guarantees, net of associated deferred revenue

No definition available.

Name:	ntap_MaximumPotentialFuturePaymentsRelatingToFinancingGuaranteesNetOfAssociatedDeferredRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	ntap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deferred revenue as of balance sheet date. Deferred revenue represents collections of cash or other assets related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 13

-Section A

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 605

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 13.A.4(a).Q1 Response)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012821&loc=d3e214044-122780

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 460

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant