Rental Income Operating

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	bned_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after allowance for credit loss, of right to consideration in exchange for good or service transferred to customer when right is conditioned on something other than passage of time.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
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+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable, classified as current.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of deferred income and obligation to transfer product and service to customer for which consideration has been received or is receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deferred revenue recognized for transactions arising during the current reporting period. Deferred revenue is a liability as of the balance sheet date related to a revenue producing activity for which revenue has not yet been recognized. Generally, an Entity records deferred revenue when it receives consideration from a customer before achieving certain criteria that must be met for revenue to be recognized in conformity with GAAP.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bned_RetailSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=bned_RetailProductMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=bned_ServiceandOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bned_WholesaleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=bned_DSSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Period Type:

Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 01, 2020	Jul. 27, 2019	May 02, 2020	Apr. 27, 2019	Jul. 29, 2017
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 204,014	$ 319,657
Rental income	10,804	17,430
Contract with Customer, Asset, Net	0		$ 0		$ 0
Contract with Customer, Liability, Current	16,270
Contract with Customer, Asset, Net	0		0		$ 0
Deferred Revenue	16,270	14,188	$ 13,373	$ 20,418
Deferred Revenue, Additions	21,411	18,083
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized	(18,514)	(24,313)
Retail Segment [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	158,776	274,656
Rental income	10,804	17,430
Retail Segment [Member] \| Retail Product [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	141,826	246,375
Retail Segment [Member] \| Service and Other [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	6,146	10,851
Wholesale [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	80,294	72,309
DSS [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	5,872	5,374
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ (40,928)	$ (32,682)