Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Apr. 26, 2014	Apr. 27, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance	$ (35,496)	$ (31,281)
Changes before reclassifications	4,490	(5,871)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,587	(30)
Tax effect	(3,961)	1,686
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to La-Z-Boy Incorporated	4,116	(4,215)
Balance	(31,380)	(35,496)	(31,281)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	7,140	5,911
Net income	1,324	793	942
Other comprehensive (income) loss	(730)	339
Change in non-controlling interest	98	97	2,312
Ending Balance	7,832	7,140	5,911
Unrealized gain on marketable securities [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance	474	3,017
Changes before reclassifications	1,308	651
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	(300)	(3,170)
Tax effect	(384)	(24)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to La-Z-Boy Incorporated	624	(2,543)
Balance	1,098	474
Translation adjustment [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance	4,779	4,029
Changes before reclassifications	(2,324)	750
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Tax effect	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to La-Z-Boy Incorporated	(2,324)	750
Balance	2,455	4,779
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance	231	0
Changes before reclassifications	(780)	373
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	321	0
Tax effect	175	(142)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to La-Z-Boy Incorporated	(284)	231
Balance	(53)	231
Net pension amortization and net actuarial loss [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance	(40,980)	(38,327)
Changes before reclassifications	6,286	(7,645)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,566	3,140
Tax effect	(3,752)	1,852
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to La-Z-Boy Incorporated	6,100	(2,653)
Balance	$ (34,880)	$ (40,980)

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Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge.

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Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

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Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of tax expense (benefit), after reclassification adjustments, of appreciation (loss) in value of unsold available-for-sale securities, attributable to parent entity. Excludes amounts related to other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss.

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Amount of tax (expense) benefit, after reclassification adjustments, of (increase) decrease in accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss related to pension and other postretirement defined benefit plans, attributable to parent entity.

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Amount of tax expense (benefit), after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature, attributable to parent entity.

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Amount before tax and reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss).

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