Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 27, 2012	Aug. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	MEDTRONIC INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000064670
Document Period End Date	Jul. 27, 2012
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-26
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,020,138,613
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013