Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Income Statement) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 140,854	$ 131,332	$ 278,656	$ 256,517
Cost of revenues	240,019	225,702	467,734	436,788
Selling, general and administrative	116,846	113,652	212,095	212,475
Total operating expenses	356,865	339,354	679,829	649,263
Other income (expense), net	1,011	2,173	2,231	4,814
Interest expense on borrowings	(21,265)	(22,620)	(42,542)	(44,086)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(236,265)	(228,469)	(441,484)	(432,018)
Income tax benefit	(87,953)	(85,054)	(165,354)	(167,577)
Net loss from continuing operations	(148,312)	(143,415)	(276,130)	(264,441)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(5,254)	(2,805)	(8,003)	(5,452)
Net loss	(153,566)	(146,220)	(284,133)	(269,893)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,385)	(2,318)	1,077	(5,889)
Comprehensive loss	(154,951)	(148,538)	(283,056)	(275,782)
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Other income (expense), net	(155,999)	(148,773)	(288,263)	(273,435)
Interest expense on borrowings	0	0	0	0
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(155,999)	(148,773)	(288,263)	(273,435)
Income tax benefit	(2,433)	(2,553)	(4,130)	(3,542)
Net loss from continuing operations	(153,566)	(146,220)	(284,133)	(269,893)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Net loss	(153,566)	(146,220)	(284,133)	(269,893)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,385)	(2,318)	1,077	(5,889)
Comprehensive loss	(154,951)	(148,538)	(283,056)	(275,782)
Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	132,060	120,423	255,154	230,223
Cost of revenues	234,943	220,061	454,913	422,660
Selling, general and administrative	116,144	111,920	210,920	208,263
Total operating expenses	351,087	331,981	665,833	630,923
Other income (expense), net	(11,221)	(13,194)	(13,639)	(22,824)
Interest expense on borrowings	(87)	(372)	(160)	(524)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(230,335)	(225,124)	(424,478)	(424,048)
Income tax benefit	(84,530)	(76,539)	(155,611)	(152,279)
Net loss from continuing operations	(145,805)	(148,585)	(268,867)	(271,769)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1)		(2)	(1)
Net loss	(145,806)	(148,585)	(268,869)	(271,770)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,385)	(2,318)	1,077	(5,889)
Comprehensive loss	(147,191)	(150,903)	(267,792)	(277,659)
Block Financial (Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	11,705	10,934	29,261	26,438
Cost of revenues	5,104	5,666	12,964	14,272
Selling, general and administrative	3,585	1,732	6,791	4,212
Total operating expenses	8,689	7,398	19,755	18,484
Other income (expense), net	6,992	1,207	13,065	2,033
Interest expense on borrowings	(21,178)	(22,248)	(42,382)	(43,562)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(11,170)	(17,505)	(19,811)	(33,575)
Income tax benefit	(990)	(5,962)	(5,613)	(11,756)
Net loss from continuing operations	(10,180)	(11,543)	(14,198)	(21,819)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(5,253)	(2,805)	(8,001)	(5,451)
Net loss	(15,433)	(14,348)	(22,199)	(27,270)
Comprehensive loss	(15,433)	(14,348)	(22,199)	(27,270)
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	(2,911)	(25)	(5,759)	(144)
Cost of revenues	(28)	(25)	(143)	(144)
Selling, general and administrative	(2,883)		(5,616)
Total operating expenses	(2,911)	(25)	(5,759)	(144)
Other income (expense), net	161,239	162,933	291,068	299,040
Interest expense on borrowings	0	0	0	0
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	161,239	162,933	291,068	299,040
Net loss from continuing operations	161,239	162,933	291,068	299,040
Net loss	161,239	162,933	291,068	299,040
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,385	2,318	(1,077)	5,889
Comprehensive loss	$ 162,624	$ 165,251	$ 289,991	$ 304,929