Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Jul. 31, 2017	Jul. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities:	$ (409,115)	$ (457,964)
Principal payments and sales of mortgage loans and real estate owned, net	0	9,573
Capital expenditures	(13,094)	(6,246)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,440)	(1,635)
Loans made to franchisees	(4,527)	(2,219)
Repayments from franchisees	4,727	6,473
Other, net	1,371	(868)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(12,963)	5,078
Dividends paid	(49,905)	(48,514)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(7,508)	(45,312)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	27,418	1,639
Other, net	2,545	(24,779)
Net cash used in financing activities	(27,450)	(116,966)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	149	(2,163)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(449,379)	(572,015)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,117,539	1,000,911
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	668,160	428,896
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dividends paid	(49,905)	(48,514)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(7,508)	(45,312)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	27,418	1,639
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	29,995	92,187
Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities:	(399,394)	(400,021)
Capital expenditures	(13,092)	(6,241)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,440)	(1,635)
Loans made to franchisees		(17)
Repayments from franchisees	203	168
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(29,995)	(92,187)
Other, net	2,594	204
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(41,730)	(99,708)
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(13,952)	(40,217)
Other, net	2,545	(24,779)
Net cash used in financing activities	(11,407)	(64,996)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	149	(2,163)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(452,382)	(566,888)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,104,993	962,882
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	652,611	395,994
Block Financial (Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities:	(9,721)	(57,943)
Principal payments and sales of mortgage loans and real estate owned, net		9,573
Capital expenditures	(2)	(5)
Loans made to franchisees	(4,527)	(2,202)
Repayments from franchisees	4,524	6,305
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	13,952	40,217
Other, net	(1,223)	(1,072)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	12,724	52,816
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	3,003	(5,127)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	12,546	38,029
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	15,549	32,902
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	16,043	51,970
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	16,043	51,970
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(16,043)	(51,970)
Net cash used in financing activities	$ (16,043)	$ (51,970)

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Payments For Loans Made To Franchisees

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Proceeds from Collection of Franchise Loans Receivable

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Amount of cash inflow (outflow) from financing activities, including discontinued operations. Financing activity cash flows include obtaining resources from owners and providing them with a return on, and a return of, their investment; borrowing money and repaying amounts borrowed, or settling the obligation; and obtaining and paying for other resources obtained from creditors on long-term credit.

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