Income Taxes [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	culp_IncomeTaxesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	culp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The portion of earnings or loss from continuing operations before income taxes that is attributable to domestic operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(1)(i))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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

- Definition

The portion of earnings or loss from continuing operations before income taxes that is attributable to foreign operations, which is defined as Income or Loss generated from operations located outside the entity's country of domicile.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CN
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_CA
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_PL
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_KY
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Income Taxes - Income (Loss) before Income Taxes Related to Foreign and U.S. Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2018	Jan. 28, 2018	Oct. 29, 2017	Jul. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 29, 2017	Oct. 30, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Apr. 29, 2018	Apr. 30, 2017	May 01, 2016
Income Taxes [Line Items]
income (loss) before income taxes, foreign									$ 17,360	$ 18,703	$ 17,715
income before income taxes	$ 6,466	$ 7,516	$ 6,159	$ 6,742	$ 6,999	$ 6,990	$ 7,159	$ 8,546	26,883	29,696	27,898
China [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
income (loss) before income taxes, foreign									11,036	13,650	14,130
Canada [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
income (loss) before income taxes, foreign									5,985	4,918	3,647
Poland [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
income (loss) before income taxes, foreign										(19)	(62)
Cayman Islands [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
income (loss) before income taxes, foreign									339	154
United States [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
income (loss) before income taxes, domestic									$ 9,523	$ 10,993	$ 10,183