Variable Interests (Details)	12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2012 item
Variable Interests [Abstract]
Number of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit (REMIC) Trusts in which the company holds an interest	56
Number of Net Interest Margin (NIM) Trusts in which the company holds an interest	14

Number Of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit Trusts In Which The Company Holds An Interest

No definition available.

Name:	hrb_NumberOfRealEstateMortgageInvestmentConduitTrustsInWhichCompanyHoldsInterest
Namespace Prefix:	hrb_
Data Type:	xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration