Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016
REVENUES:
Professional services	$ 30,849,000	$ 29,784,000
Aerospace products	19,770,000	15,010,000
Total revenues	50,619,000	44,794,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of professional services	19,126,000	17,872,000
Cost of aerospace products	14,547,000	12,173,000
Marketing and advertising	4,276,000	4,562,000
Employee benefits	1,972,000	1,889,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,985,000	2,174,000
General, administrative and other	5,213,000	5,502,000
Total costs and expenses	47,119,000	44,172,000
OPERATING INCOME	3,500,000	622,000
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense	(403,000)	(471,000)
Other income (expense), net	(16,000)	21,000
Gain on sale and disposal of assets	1,000	736,000
Total other income (expense)	(418,000)	286,000
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	3,082,000	908,000
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
Provision for income taxes	589,000	0
Deferred income tax	179,000	93,000
NET INCOME	2,314,000	815,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in BHCMC, LLC	(780,000)	(791,000)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION	$ 1,534,000	$ 24,000
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	63,455,883	62,263,404
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO BUTLER NATIONAL CORPORATION (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES USED IN PER SHARE CALCULATION (in shares)	63,455,883	62,263,404