Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	$ (1,311,926)	$ (1,382,771)
Purchases of AFS securities	(108,351)	(178,014)
Maturities of AFS securities	86,808	40,473
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	31,205	35,460
Purchases of property & equipment	(96,063)	(71,549)
Payments made for acquisitions of businesses and intangibles, net	(20,662)	(16,022)
Proceeds from sales of businesses, net	1,212	533,055
Loans made to franchisees	(68,874)	(43,649)
Repayments from franchisees	9,594	8,455
Other, net	(15,185)	15,321
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(180,316)	323,530
Repayments of commercial paper	(789,271)	(413,221)
Proceeds from commercial paper	1,214,238	644,168
Repayments of long-term debt	(636,621)
Proceeds from long-term debt	497,185
Customer banking deposits, net	208,753	735,252
Dividends paid	(162,692)	(150,058)
Repurchase of common stock	(340,298)	(180,566)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, net	11,529	(324)
Other, net	(36,113)	(31,424)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(33,290)	603,827
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(417)	(3,446)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(1,525,949)	(458,860)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	1,944,334	1,677,844
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	418,385	1,218,984
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	(158)	8,193
Intercompany advances (payments)	491,619	322,729
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	491,619	322,729
Dividends paid	(162,692)	(150,058)
Repurchase of common stock	(340,298)	(180,566)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options, net	11,529	(324)
Other, net		26
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(491,461)	(330,922)
Block Financial (Issuer) [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	(408,904)	(448,362)
Purchases of AFS securities	(108,351)	(178,014)
Maturities of AFS securities	86,756	39,400
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	31,205	35,460
Purchases of property & equipment	(58)	(152)
Loans made to franchisees	(68,874)	(43,649)
Repayments from franchisees	9,594	8,455
Other, net	(21,879)	7,830
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(71,607)	(130,670)
Repayments of commercial paper	(789,271)	(413,221)
Proceeds from commercial paper	1,214,238	644,168
Repayments of long-term debt	(605,790)
Proceeds from long-term debt	497,185
Customer banking deposits, net	208,443	735,491
Intercompany advances (payments)	(251,638)	61,747
Other, net	(12,987)	57
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	260,180	1,028,242
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(220,331)	449,210
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	515,147	616,238
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	294,816	1,065,448
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	(902,864)	(942,602)
Maturities of AFS securities	52	1,073
Purchases of property & equipment	(96,005)	(71,397)
Payments made for acquisitions of businesses and intangibles, net	(20,662)	(16,022)
Proceeds from sales of businesses, net	1,212	533,055
Other, net	6,694	7,491
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(108,709)	454,200
Repayments of long-term debt	(30,831)
Intercompany advances (payments)	(239,981)	(384,476)
Other, net	(23,126)	(31,507)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(293,938)	(415,983)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(417)	(3,446)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(1,305,928)	(907,831)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	1,430,030	1,061,656
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	124,102	153,825
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany advances (payments)	(491,619)	(322,729)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(491,619)	(322,729)
Customer banking deposits, net	310	(239)
Intercompany advances (payments)	491,619	322,729
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	491,929	322,490
Net increase (decrease) in cash	310	(239)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	(843)	(50)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	$ (533)	$ (289)