Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 25, 2020	Jan. 25, 2020	Feb. 21, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date		Jan. 25, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus		2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus		Q3
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Registrant Name		Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key		0001634117
Current Fiscal Year End Date		--04-29
Entity Filer Category		Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company		false
Entity Small Business		false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			48,297,554