Loss Per Share And Stockholders' Equity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010
Earnings Loss Per Share And Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	13,000,000	15,600,000	13,000,000	15,600,000
Basic shares	299,895,000	306,804,000	302,693,000	313,247,000
Common stock shares issued			1,000,000	800,000
Repurchased and retired H&R Block common stock, shares			13,000,000	19,000,000
Retirement of common shares, value			$ 177.5	$ 279.9
Purchase of H&R Block common stock, shares			200,000	200,000
Purchase of H&R Block common stock, value			2.7	3.5
Stock options granted in period			2,300,000
Nonvested shares granted in period			1,000,000
Weighted average fair value of options granted			3.37
Stock-based compensation expense total	4.5	1.8	7.8	3.8
Unrecognized compensation cost, options			8.5
Unrecognized compensation cost, nonvested shares	$ 19.8		$ 19.8