Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2010
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	$ 362,049	$ 512,503	$ 587,469
Purchases of AFS securities	(256,173)	(138,824)	(5,365)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	66,382	16,797	15,758
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	49,142	58,471	72,832
Purchases of property & equipment	(82,457)	(62,959)	(90,515)
Payments for business acquisitions, net	(15,258)	(54,171)	(10,539)
Proceeds from sales of businesses, net	560,499	71,083	66,623
Loans made to franchisees	(46,246)	(92,455)	(89,664)
Repayments from franchisees	56,591	57,552	40,710
Other, net	19,387	34,349	31,513
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	351,867	(110,157)	31,353
Repayments of commercial paper	(664,167)	(4,818,766)	(1,406,013)
Proceeds from commercial paper	664,167	4,818,766	1,406,013
Repayments of other borrowings	(25,000)	(50,000)	(4,267,773)
Proceeds from other borrowings			4,242,727
Customer banking deposits, net	(26,091)	(11,440)	17,539
Dividends paid	(208,801)	(186,802)	(200,899)
Repurchase of common stock	(180,592)	(283,534)	(254,250)
Proceeds from stock options	12,275	424	16,682
Other, net	(16,853)	(3,039)	(35,144)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(445,062)	(534,391)	(481,118)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(2,364)	5,844	11,678
Net increase (decrease) in cash	266,490	(126,201)	149,382
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	1,677,844	1,804,045	1,654,663
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	1,944,334	1,677,844	1,804,045
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	33,046	9,683	21,252
Net intercompany advances	344,000	459,755	415,591
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	344,000	459,755	415,591
Dividends paid	(208,801)	(186,802)	(200,899)
Repurchase of common stock	(180,592)	(283,534)	(254,250)
Proceeds from stock options	12,275	424	16,682
Other, net	72	474	1,624
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(377,046)	(469,438)	(436,843)
Block Financial (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	15,144	(153,471)	16,698
Purchases of AFS securities	(256,173)	(138,824)	(365)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	63,291	16,690	14,639
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	49,142	58,471	72,832
Purchases of property & equipment	(153)	(33)
Loans made to franchisees	(46,246)	(92,455)	(89,664)
Repayments from franchisees	56,591	57,552	40,710
Other, net	11,785	21,556	73,493
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(121,763)	(77,043)	111,645
Repayments of commercial paper	(664,167)	(4,818,766)	(1,406,013)
Proceeds from commercial paper	664,167	4,818,766	1,406,013
Repayments of other borrowings	(25,000)	(50,000)	(4,267,727)
Proceeds from other borrowings			4,242,727
Customer banking deposits, net	(25,298)	(11,501)	11,428
Net intercompany advances	55,721	206,722	354,617
Other, net	105	(490)	(8,717)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	5,528	144,731	332,328
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(101,091)	(85,783)	460,671
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	616,238	702,021	241,350
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	515,147	616,238	702,021
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	313,859	656,291	549,519
Purchases of AFS securities			(5,000)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	3,091	107	1,119
Purchases of property & equipment	(82,304)	(62,926)	(90,515)
Payments for business acquisitions, net	(15,258)	(54,171)	(10,539)
Proceeds from sales of businesses, net	560,499	71,083	66,623
Other, net	7,602	12,793	(41,980)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	473,630	(33,114)	(80,292)
Repayments of other borrowings			(46)
Net intercompany advances	(399,721)	(666,477)	(770,208)
Other, net	(17,030)	(3,023)	(28,051)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(416,751)	(669,500)	(798,305)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(2,364)	5,844	11,678
Net increase (decrease) in cash	368,374	(40,479)	(317,400)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	1,061,656	1,102,135	1,419,535
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	1,430,030	1,061,656	1,102,135
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net intercompany advances	(344,000)	(459,755)	(415,591)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(344,000)	(459,755)	(415,591)
Customer banking deposits, net	(793)	61	6,111
Net intercompany advances	344,000	459,755	415,591
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	343,207	459,816	421,702
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(793)	61	6,111
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	(50)	(111)	(6,222)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	$ (843)	$ (50)	$ (111)