Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	May 02, 2015	May 03, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 809.1	$ 881.1	$ 772.8
Cost of products sold	596.2	662.3	616.1
Gross profit	212.9	218.8	156.7
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0.0	11.1	1.7
Selling and administrative expenses	100.8	94.0	79.6
Amortization of intangibles	2.4	1.5	1.8
Income from operations	109.7	112.2	73.6
Gain from sale of business	0.0	(7.7)	0.0
Interest (income)/expense, net	(0.7)	(0.7)	0.3
Other income	(0.5)	(0.2)	(2.6)
Income/(loss) before income taxes	110.9	120.8	75.9
Income tax expense/(benefit)	26.3	19.8	(20.3)
Net income	84.6	101.0	96.2
Less: Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0.0	(0.1)	0.1
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO METHODE ELECTRONICS, INC.	$ 84.6	$ 101.1	$ 96.1
Basic and diluted income per share:
Basic income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.21	$ 2.61	$ 2.53
Diluted income per share (in dollars per share)	2.20	2.57	2.51
Cash dividends per share:
Common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.36	$ 0.30