Document and Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 20, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
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		122,600,010
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2015