Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	$ (693,316)	$ (627,691)
Capital expenditures	(42,854)	(66,422)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(416,925)	(24,549)
Franchise loans funded	(16,021)	(8,915)
Payments from franchisees	7,902	11,689
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	0	0
Other, net	50,839	4,993
Net cash used in investing activities	(417,059)	(83,204)
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	135,000	0
Dividends paid	(104,063)	(103,484)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(190,369)	(102,096)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,215	1,746
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	0	0
Other, net	(18,544)	(22,434)
Net cash used in financing activities	(176,761)	(226,268)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	1,053	(3,209)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	(1,286,083)	(940,372)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,707,727	1,663,678
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	421,644	723,306
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Franchise loans funded	0	0
Payments from franchisees	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	397,959	183,015
Other, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	397,959	183,015
Dividends paid	0	0
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(397,959)	(183,015)
Other, net	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(397,959)	(183,015)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	0	0
H&R Block, Inc. (Guarantor) | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	0	0
Capital expenditures	0	0
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Franchise loans funded	0	0
Payments from franchisees	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	0	0
Other, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Dividends paid	(104,063)	(103,484)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(190,369)	(102,096)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,215	1,746
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	293,217	203,834
Other, net	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	0	0
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	0	0
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	0	0
Block Financial (Issuer) | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(20,938)	(22,827)
Capital expenditures	0	(164)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Franchise loans funded	(15,868)	(8,740)
Payments from franchisees	7,476	11,442
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(104,742)	20,819
Other, net	(894)	209
Net cash used in investing activities	(114,028)	23,566
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings	135,000
Dividends paid	0	0
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	0	0
Other, net	0	(668)
Net cash used in financing activities	135,000	(668)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	0	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	34	71
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	4,109	4,346
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	4,143	4,417
Other Subsidiaries | Reportable entities
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(672,378)	(604,864)
Capital expenditures	(42,854)	(66,258)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(416,925)	(24,549)
Franchise loans funded	(153)	(175)
Payments from franchisees	426	247
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	(293,217)	(203,834)
Other, net	51,733	4,784
Net cash used in investing activities	(700,990)	(289,785)
Dividends paid	0	0
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	0	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0
Intercompany borrowings (payments)	104,742	(20,819)
Other, net	(18,544)	(21,766)
Net cash used in financing activities	86,198	(42,585)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	1,053	(3,209)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents, including restricted balances	(1,286,117)	(940,443)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	1,703,618	1,659,332
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$ 417,501	$ 718,889