Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2019	Jan. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2019	Jan. 31, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 468,384	$ 488,426	$ 762,438	$ 767,082
Cost of revenues	421,026	416,601	893,401	884,335
Selling, general and administrative	185,458	169,098	404,517	381,193
Total operating expenses	606,484	585,699	1,297,918	1,265,528
Other income (expense), net	2,269	1,028	11,275	3,259
Interest expense on external borrowings	(22,833)	(24,560)	(65,214)	(67,102)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (benefit)	(158,664)	(120,805)	(589,419)	(562,289)
Income taxes (benefit)	(38,885)	122,120	(149,906)	(43,234)
Net loss from continuing operations	(119,779)	(242,925)	(439,513)	(519,055)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(6,675)	(2,720)	(15,887)	(10,723)
Net loss	(126,454)	(245,645)	(455,400)	(529,778)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,238	4,848	(3,339)	5,925
Comprehensive loss	(125,216)	(240,797)	(458,739)	(523,853)
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	(18,221)	(16,977)	(26,088)	(22,736)
Cost of revenues	(10,179)	(8,976)	(12,938)	(9,119)
Selling, general and administrative	(8,042)	(8,001)	(13,150)	(13,617)
Total operating expenses	(18,221)	(16,977)	(26,088)	(22,736)
Other income (expense), net	128,002	264,012	442,114	555,080
Interest expense on external borrowings	0	0	0	0
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (benefit)	128,002	264,012	442,114	555,080
Net loss from continuing operations	128,002	264,012	442,114	555,080
Net loss	128,002	264,012	442,114	555,080
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,238)	(4,848)	3,339	(5,925)
Comprehensive loss	126,764	259,164	445,453	549,155
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor) | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative			1,476
Total operating expenses			1,476
Other income (expense), net	(134,984)	(250,732)	(465,085)	(538,995)
Interest expense on external borrowings	0	0	0	0
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (benefit)	(134,984)	(250,732)	(466,561)	(538,995)
Income taxes (benefit)	(8,530)	(5,087)	(11,161)	(9,217)
Net loss from continuing operations	(126,454)	(245,645)	(455,400)	(529,778)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Net loss	(126,454)	(245,645)	(455,400)	(529,778)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,238	4,848	(3,339)	5,925
Comprehensive loss	(125,216)	(240,797)	(458,739)	(523,853)
Block Financial (Issuer) | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	53,461	55,795	81,751	85,056
Cost of revenues	34,533	33,805	46,580	46,769
Selling, general and administrative	10,347	10,823	16,444	17,614
Total operating expenses	44,880	44,628	63,024	64,383
Other income (expense), net	8,903	7,819	27,748	20,884
Interest expense on external borrowings	(22,833)	(24,491)	(65,082)	(66,873)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (benefit)	(5,349)	(5,505)	(18,607)	(25,316)
Income taxes (benefit)	75	15,600	(5,942)	9,987
Net loss from continuing operations	(5,424)	(21,105)	(12,665)	(35,303)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(6,675)	(2,720)	(15,887)	(10,721)
Net loss	(12,099)	(23,825)	(28,552)	(46,024)
Comprehensive loss	(12,099)	(23,825)	(28,552)	(46,024)
Other Subsidiaries | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	433,144	449,608	706,775	704,762
Cost of revenues	396,672	391,772	859,759	846,685
Selling, general and administrative	183,153	166,276	399,747	377,196
Total operating expenses	579,825	558,048	1,259,506	1,223,881
Other income (expense), net	348	(20,071)	6,498	(33,710)
Interest expense on external borrowings	0	(69)	(132)	(229)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes (benefit)	(146,333)	(128,580)	(546,365)	(553,058)
Income taxes (benefit)	(30,430)	111,607	(132,803)	(44,004)
Net loss from continuing operations	(115,903)	(240,187)	(413,562)	(509,054)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations				(2)
Net loss	(115,903)	(240,187)	(413,562)	(509,056)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,238	4,848	(3,339)	5,925
Comprehensive loss	$ (114,665)	$ (235,339)	$ (416,901)	$ (503,131)