CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	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]	PREFERRED SHARES [Member]	Common Shares and Limited Partnership Units [Member]	ACCUMULATED DISTRIBUTIONS IN EXCESS OF NET INCOME [Member]	NONREDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS [Member]	Total
Balance at Apr. 30, 2015					$ 138,674	$ 951,868	$ (438,432)	$ 88,844	$ 740,954
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2015					5,750	124,455
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust and noncontrolling interests							4,540	194	4,734
Distributions - common shares and units							(16,200)	(1,815)	(18,015)
Distributions - preferred shares	$ (593)	$ (593)	$ (2,286)	$ (2,286)					(2,879)
Distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan						$ 5,241			5,241
Distribution reinvestment and share purchase plan (in shares)						766
Shares issued and share-based compensation						$ 22			22
Shares issued and share-based compensation (in shares)						220
Redemption of units for common shares						$ 576		(576)
Redemption of units for common shares (in shares)						79
Other								(170)	(170)
Balance at Jul. 31, 2015					$ 138,674	$ 957,707	(452,971)	86,477	729,887
Balance (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2015					5,750	125,520
Balance at Apr. 30, 2016					$ 138,674	$ 922,084	(442,000)	99,504	718,262
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2016					5,750	121,091
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust and noncontrolling interests							(21,643)	(18,897)	(40,540)
Distributions - common shares and units							(15,742)	(2,117)	(17,859)
Distributions - preferred shares	$ (593)	$ (593)	$ (2,286)	$ (2,286)					(2,879)
Shares issued and share-based compensation						$ 614			614
Shares issued and share-based compensation (in shares)						437
Contributions from nonredeemable noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities								572	572
Distributions to nonredeemable noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities								(126)	(126)
Other								(24)	(24)
Balance at Jul. 31, 2016					$ 138,674	$ 922,698	$ (482,264)	$ 78,912	$ 658,020
Balance (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2016					5,750	121,528