Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014	Jun. 02, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Investors Real Estate Trust
Entity Central Index Key	0000798359
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 898,050,172
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		109,374,477
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY