Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	$ (1,357,701)	$ (1,409,859)
Principal payments and sales of mortgage loans and real estate owned, net	0	207,174
Capital expenditures	(77,865)	(73,924)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(39,397)	(52,825)
Franchise loans funded	(20,226)	(31,788)
Payments received on franchise loans	13,391	20,816
Other, net	1,524	(4,711)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(122,573)	64,742
Repayments of line of credit borrowings	(40,000)	(445,000)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	830,000	1,545,000
Dividends paid	(150,258)	(141,537)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(7,746)	(322,782)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	28,268	2,403
Other, net	(28,922)	373
Net cash provided by financing activities	631,342	638,457
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	1,792	(2,913)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(847,140)	(709,573)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,117,539	1,000,911
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	270,399	291,338
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	557,209	1,353,266
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	557,209	1,353,266
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(557,209)	(1,353,266)
Net cash provided by financing activities	(557,209)	(1,353,266)
Block Financial (Issuer)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(353,081)	(420,319)
Principal payments and sales of mortgage loans and real estate owned, net		207,174
Capital expenditures	(794)	(14)
Franchise loans funded	(20,080)	(31,568)
Payments received on franchise loans	13,058	20,605
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(427,473)	(891,350)
Other, net	(9,039)	(10,233)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(444,328)	(705,386)
Repayments of line of credit borrowings	(40,000)	(445,000)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	830,000	1,545,000
Other, net	(662)
Net cash provided by financing activities	789,338	1,100,000
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(8,071)	(25,705)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	12,546	38,029
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	4,475	12,324
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Dividends paid	(150,258)	(141,537)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(7,746)	(322,782)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	28,268	2,403
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	129,736	461,916
Other Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(1,004,620)	(989,540)
Capital expenditures	(77,071)	(73,910)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(39,397)	(52,825)
Franchise loans funded	(146)	(220)
Payments received on franchise loans	333	211
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(129,736)	(461,916)
Other, net	10,563	5,522
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(235,454)	(583,138)
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	427,473	891,350
Other, net	(28,260)	373
Net cash provided by financing activities	399,213	891,723
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	1,792	(2,913)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(839,069)	(683,868)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,104,993	962,882
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$ 265,924	$ 279,014