CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Capital Contributed in Excess of Par Value	Accumulated Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Shareholders' equity attributable to Culp Inc.	Non-Controlling Interest Discontinued Operation
Balance at Apr. 30, 2017	$ 148,630	$ 618	$ 47,415	$ 100,601	$ (4)	$ 148,630
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2017		12,356,631
net income (loss)	20,877			20,877		20,877
stock-based compensation	2,212		2,212			2,212
unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedge instrument	(55)				(55)	(55)
unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(26)				(26)	(26)
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance-based restricted stock units		$ 6	(6)
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance based restricted stock units (in shares)		118,845
fully vested common stock award (shares)		4,800
common stock issued in connection with vesting of time-based restricted stock units (in shares)		1,200
common stock issued in connection with exercise of stock options	$ 111	$ 1	110			111
common stock issued in connection with exercise of stock options (in shares)	15,600	15,600
common stock surrendered for the cost of stock option exercises and withholding taxes payable	$ (1,530)	$ (2)	(1,528)			(1,530)
common stock surrendered for the cost of stock option exercises and withholding taxes payable (shares)		(46,800)
dividends paid	(6,843)			(6,843)		(6,843)
Balance at Apr. 29, 2018	163,376	$ 623	48,203	114,635	(85)	163,376
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 29, 2018		12,450,276
net income (loss)	5,458			5,676		5,676	$ (218)
acquisition of subsidiary with non-controlling interest - discontinued operation	4,532						4,532
stock-based compensation	130		130			130
unrealized gain (loss) on foreign currency cash flow hedge instrument	55				55	55
unrealized gain (loss) on investments	70				70	70
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance-based restricted stock units		$ 7	(7)
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance based restricted stock units (in shares)		136,996
fully vested common stock award (shares)		6,548
common stock issued in connection with vesting of time-based restricted stock units (in shares)		1,200
common stock surrendered for the cost of stock option exercises and withholding taxes payable	(1,319)	$ (2)	(1,317)			(1,319)
common stock surrendered for the cost of stock option exercises and withholding taxes payable (shares)		(43,037)
common stock repurchased	(3,323)	$ (8)	(3,315)			(3,323)
Common stock repurchased (in shares)		(160,823)
dividends paid	(4,732)			(4,732)		(4,732)
Balance at Apr. 28, 2019	164,247	$ 620	43,694	115,579	40	159,933	4,314
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 28, 2019		12,391,160
net income (loss)	(28,667)			(23,993)		(23,993)	(4,674)
capital contribution from non-controlling interest - discontinued operation	360						$ 360
stock-based compensation	614		614			614
unrealized gain (loss) on investments	(50)				(50)	(50)
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance-based restricted stock units		$ 1	(1)
common stock issued in connection with vesting of performance based restricted stock units (in shares)		15,638
fully vested common stock award		$ 1	(1)
fully vested common stock award (shares)		23,664
common stock surrendered for the cost of stock option exercises and withholding taxes payable	(51)		(51)			(51)
common stock surrendered for the cost of stock option exercises and withholding taxes payable (shares)		(3,020)
common stock repurchased	(1,680)	$ (7)	(1,673)			(1,680)
Common stock repurchased (in shares)		(142,496)
dividends paid	(5,075)			(5,075)		(5,075)
Balance at May. 03, 2020	$ 129,698	$ 615	$ 42,582	$ 86,511	$ (10)	$ 129,698
Balance (in shares) at May. 03, 2020		12,284,946