Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2019	Apr. 30, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Jul. 31, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 150,362				$ 145,183
Cost of revenues	229,392				221,560
Selling, general and administrative	116,136				105,740
Total operating expenses	345,528				327,300
Other income (expense), net	9,123				4,542
Interest expense on external borrowings	(21,071)				(21,190)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(207,114)				(198,765)
Income tax benefit	(61,390)				(49,968)
Net loss from continuing operations	(145,724)				(148,797)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(4,523)				(3,873)
Net loss	(150,247)	$ 877,909	$ (126,454)	$ (176,276)	(152,670)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,320)				(1,731)
Comprehensive loss	(152,567)				(154,401)
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	(3,231)				(3,126)
Cost of revenues	(522)				(591)
Selling, general and administrative	(2,709)				(2,535)
Total operating expenses	(3,231)				(3,126)
Other income (expense), net	136,510				141,283
Interest expense on external borrowings	0				0
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	136,510				141,283
Income tax benefit	0				0
Net loss from continuing operations	136,510				141,283
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0				0
Net loss	136,510				141,283
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,320				1,731
Comprehensive loss	138,830				143,014
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor) | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	0				0
Cost of revenues	0				0
Selling, general and administrative	0				0
Total operating expenses	0				0
Other income (expense), net	(151,752)				(153,616)
Interest expense on external borrowings	0				0
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(151,752)				(153,616)
Income tax benefit	(1,505)				(946)
Net loss from continuing operations	(150,247)				(152,670)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0				0
Net loss	(150,247)				(152,670)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,320)				(1,731)
Comprehensive loss	(152,567)				(154,401)
Block Financial (Issuer) | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	16,534				16,832
Cost of revenues	5,216				5,033
Selling, general and administrative	2,897				3,250
Total operating expenses	8,113				8,283
Other income (expense), net	10,497				9,827
Interest expense on external borrowings	(21,056)				(21,123)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(2,138)				(2,747)
Income tax benefit	(178)				(3,701)
Net loss from continuing operations	(1,960)				954
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	(4,523)				(3,873)
Net loss	(6,483)				(2,919)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0				0
Comprehensive loss	(6,483)				(2,919)
Other Subsidiaries | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Total revenues	137,059				131,477
Cost of revenues	224,698				217,118
Selling, general and administrative	115,948				105,025
Total operating expenses	340,646				322,143
Other income (expense), net	13,868				7,048
Interest expense on external borrowings	(15)				(67)
Loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit	(189,734)				(183,685)
Income tax benefit	(59,707)				(45,321)
Net loss from continuing operations	(130,027)				(138,364)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	0				0
Net loss	(130,027)				(138,364)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2,320)				(1,731)
Comprehensive loss	$ (132,347)				$ (140,095)