CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $)	PREFERRED SHARES [Member]	COMMON SHARES [Member]	ACCUMULATED DISTRIBUTIONS IN EXCESS OF NET INCOME [Member]	NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS [Member]	Total	Preferred Class A [Member] ACCUMULATED DISTRIBUTIONS IN EXCESS OF NET INCOME [Member]	Preferred Class A [Member]	Preferred Class B [Member] ACCUMULATED DISTRIBUTIONS IN EXCESS OF NET INCOME [Member]	Preferred Class B [Member]
Balance at Apr. 30, 2012	$ 27,317,000	$ 684,049,000	$ (278,377,000)	$ 132,274,000	$ 565,263,000
Balance, shares (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2012	1,150,000	89,474,000
Net income attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust and nonredeemable interests			1,679,000	317,000	1,996,000
Distributions - common shares and units			(11,734,000)	(2,679,000)	(14,413,000)
Distributions - preferred shares					(593,000)	(593,000)	(593,000)
Distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan		14,485,000			14,485,000
Distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan (in shares)		1,892,000
Shares issued		2,566,000			2,566,000
Shares issued, shares (in shares)		358,000
Partnership units issued				6,428,000	6,428,000
Redemption of units for common shares		337,000		(337,000)	0
Redemption of units for common shares, shares (in shares)		89,000
Other		(6,000)			(6,000)
Other, shares (in shares)		(1,000)
Balance at Jul. 31, 2012	27,317,000	701,431,000	(289,025,000)	136,003,000	575,726,000
Balance, shares (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2012	1,150,000	91,812,000
Balance at Apr. 30, 2013	138,674,000	784,454,000	(310,341,000)	148,594,000	761,381,000
Balance, shares (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2013	5,750,000	101,488,000
Net income attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust and nonredeemable interests			3,078,000	138,000	3,216,000
Distributions - common shares and units			(13,264,000)	(2,829,000)	(16,093,000)
Distributions - preferred shares					(2,879,000)	(593,000)	(593,000)	(2,286,000)	(2,286,000)
Distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan		22,673,000			22,673,000
Distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan (in shares)		2,600,000
Shares issued		112,000			112,000
Shares issued, shares (in shares)		13,000
Partnership units issued				3,280,000	3,280,000
Redemption of units for common shares		706,000		(706,000)	0
Redemption of units for common shares, shares (in shares)		125,000
Other		(17,000)		(367,000)	(384,000)
Balance at Jul. 31, 2013	$ 138,674,000	$ 807,928,000	$ (323,406,000)	$ 148,110,000	$ 771,306,000
Balance, shares (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2013	5,750,000	104,226,000