Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2009
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 512,503	$ 587,469	$ 1,024,439
Purchases of AFS securities	(138,824)	(5,365)	(5,092)
Sales, maturities, and payments received on AFS securities	16,797	15,758	15,075
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	58,471	72,832	91,329
Purchases of property & equipment	(62,959)	(90,515)	(97,880)
Payments for business acquisitions, net	(54,171)	(10,539)	(293,805)
Proceeds from sales of businesses, net	71,083	66,623	18,865
Loans made to franchisees	(92,455)	(89,664)
Repayments from franchisees	57,552	40,710
Investing cash flows of discontinued operations			255,066
Other, net	34,349	31,513	22,002
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(110,157)	31,353	5,560
Repayments of commercial paper	(4,818,766)	(1,406,013)
Proceeds from commercial paper	4,818,766	1,406,013
Repayments of other borrowings	(50,000)	(4,267,773)	(4,762,294)
Proceeds from other borrowings		4,242,727	4,733,294
Customer banking deposits, net	(11,440)	17,539	64,357
Dividends paid	(186,802)	(200,899)	(198,685)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(283,534)	(254,250)	(106,189)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net			141,415
Proceeds from stock options	424	16,682	71,594
Financing cash flows of discontinued operations			4,783
Other, net	(3,039)	(35,144)	11,492
Net cash used in financing activities	(534,391)	(481,118)	(40,233)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	5,844	11,678
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(126,201)	149,382	989,766
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	1,804,045	1,654,663	664,897
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	1,677,844	1,804,045	1,654,663
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor) [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	9,683	21,252	3,835
Net intercompany advances	459,755	415,591	73,820
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	459,755	415,591	73,820
Dividends paid	(186,802)	(200,899)	(198,685)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(283,534)	(254,250)	(106,189)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net			141,415
Proceeds from stock options	424	16,682	71,594
Other, net	474	1,624	14,210
Net cash used in financing activities	(469,438)	(436,843)	(77,655)
BFC (Issuer) [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(153,471)	16,698	(13,225)
Purchases of AFS securities	(138,824)	(365)	(875)
Sales, maturities, and payments received on AFS securities	16,690	14,639	8,417
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	58,471	72,832	91,329
Purchases of property & equipment	(33)		(43)
Loans made to franchisees	(92,455)	(89,664)
Repayments from franchisees	57,552	40,710
Investing cash flows of discontinued operations			255,066
Other, net	21,556	73,493	10,056
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(77,043)	111,645	363,950
Repayments of commercial paper	(4,818,766)	(1,406,013)
Proceeds from commercial paper	4,818,766	1,406,013
Repayments of other borrowings	(50,000)	(4,267,727)	(4,762,294)
Proceeds from other borrowings		4,242,727	4,733,294
Customer banking deposits, net	(11,501)	11,428	69,932
Net intercompany advances	206,722	354,617	(199,032)
Financing cash flows of discontinued operations			4,783
Other, net	(490)	(8,717)	9,331
Net cash used in financing activities	144,731	332,328	(143,986)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(85,783)	460,671	206,739
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	702,021	241,350	34,611
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	616,238	702,021	241,350
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	656,291	549,519	1,033,829
Purchases of AFS securities		(5,000)	(4,217)
Sales, maturities, and payments received on AFS securities	107	1,119	6,658
Purchases of property & equipment	(62,926)	(90,515)	(97,837)
Payments for business acquisitions, net	(54,171)	(10,539)	(293,805)
Proceeds from sales of businesses, net	71,083	66,623	18,865
Other, net	12,793	(41,980)	11,946
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(33,114)	(80,292)	(358,390)
Repayments of other borrowings		(46)
Net intercompany advances	(666,477)	(770,208)	125,212
Other, net	(3,023)	(28,051)	(12,049)
Net cash used in financing activities	(669,500)	(798,305)	113,163
Effects of exchange rates on cash	5,844	11,678
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(40,479)	(317,400)	788,602
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	1,102,135	1,419,535	630,933
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	1,061,656	1,102,135	1,419,535
Elims [Member]
Net intercompany advances	(459,755)	(415,591)	(73,820)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(459,755)	(415,591)	(73,820)
Customer banking deposits, net	61	6,111	(5,575)
Net intercompany advances	459,755	415,591	73,820
Net cash used in financing activities	459,816	421,702	68,245
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	61	6,111	(5,575)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	(111)	(6,222)	(647)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	$ (50)	$ (111)	$ (6,222)