Accounts Receivable - Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Detail) - Allowance for doubtful accounts [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
May 03, 2020	Apr. 28, 2019	Apr. 29, 2018
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
beginning balance	$ (393)	$ (357)	$ (414)
provision for bad debts	(79)	(84)	57
write-offs, net of recoveries		48
ending balance	$ (472)	$ (393)	$ (357)

Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, representing receivables written off as uncollectible, net of recoveries.

No definition available.

Name:	culp_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesWriteOffsNetOfRecoveries
Namespace Prefix:	culp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration