Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	$ (318,742)	$ (373,140)
Purchases of AFS securities	(45,158)	(28,990)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	32,061	21,129
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	11,707	12,652
Purchases of property & equipment	(34,386)	(13,273)
Loans made to franchisees	(6,657)	(5,062)
Repayments from franchisees	7,164	5,154
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net	6,179	1,675
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(29,090)	(6,715)
Repayments of other borrowings		30,831
Customer banking deposits, net	(179,364)	(179,519)
Dividends paid	(54,550)	(54,201)
Repurchase of common stock	(4,201)	(339,088)
Proceeds from stock options	21,953	468
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net	(13,093)	(19,939)
Net cash used in financing activities	(229,255)	(623,110)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(6,621)	(1,498)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(583,708)	(1,004,463)
Cash & cash equivalents	1,163,876	939,871
Parent Company [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	1,784	(20,577)
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Purchases of property & equipment
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Intercompany advances (payments)	35,014	413,392
Other, net
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	35,014	413,392
Repayments of other borrowings
Customer banking deposits, net
Dividends paid	(54,550)	(54,201)
Repurchase of common stock	(4,201)	(339,088)
Proceeds from stock options	21,953	468
Intercompany advances (payments)
Other, net		6
Net cash used in financing activities	(36,798)	(392,815)
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash & cash equivalents
Block Financial Issuer [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	53,801	(42,793)
Purchases of AFS securities	(45,158)	(28,990)
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities	32,061	21,112
Mortgage loans held for investment, net	11,707	12,652
Purchases of property & equipment		(31)
Loans made to franchisees	(6,657)	(5,062)
Repayments from franchisees	7,164	5,154
Other, net	5,501	1,654
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	4,618	6,489
Repayments of other borrowings
Customer banking deposits, net	(178,617)	(179,038)
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	1,188	42,908
Other, net		146
Net cash used in financing activities	(177,429)	(135,984)
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(119,010)	(172,288)
Cash & cash equivalents	439,100	342,859
Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	(374,327)	(309,770)
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities		17
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Purchases of property & equipment	(34,386)	(13,242)
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Other, net	678	21
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(33,708)	(13,204)
Repayments of other borrowings		30,831
Customer banking deposits, net
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	(36,202)	(456,300)
Other, net	(13,093)	(20,091)
Net cash used in financing activities	(49,295)	(507,222)
Effects of exchange rates on cash	(6,621)	(1,498)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(463,951)	(831,694)
Cash & cash equivalents	728,246	598,336
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Purchases of AFS securities
Maturities and payments received on AFS securities
Mortgage loans held for investment, net
Purchases of property & equipment
Loans made to franchisees
Repayments from franchisees
Intercompany advances (payments)	(35,014)	(413,392)
Other, net
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(35,014)	(413,392)
Repayments of other borrowings
Customer banking deposits, net	(747)	(481)
Dividends paid
Repurchase of common stock
Proceeds from stock options
Intercompany advances (payments)	35,014	413,392
Other, net
Net cash used in financing activities	34,267	412,911
Effects of exchange rates on cash
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(747)	(481)
Cash & cash equivalents	$ (3,470)	$ (1,324)