EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Jan. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2016	Jul. 31, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015
EARNINGS PER SHARE [Abstract]
Ratio of units exchanged for shares									one-for-one basis
NUMERATOR [Abstract]
(Loss) income from continuing operations – Investors Real Estate Trust									$ (17,340)	$ 18,651	$ 14,083
Income from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust									60,687	53,355	10,004
Net income attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust	$ 30,280	$ 23,110	$ 11,600	$ (21,643)	$ 11,003	$ 39,797	$ 16,666	$ 4,540	43,347	72,006	24,087
Dividends to preferred shareholders									(10,546)	(11,514)	(11,514)
Redemption of preferred shares									(1,435)
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS	$ 27,994	$ 19,172	$ 8,722	$ (24,522)	$ 8,125	$ 36,918	$ 13,788	$ 1,661	31,366	60,492	12,573
Noncontrolling interests - Operating Partnership									4,059	7,032	1,526
Numerator for diluted (loss) earnings per share									$ 35,425	$ 67,524	$ 14,099
DENOMINATOR [Abstract]
Denominator for basic earnings per share weighted average shares (in shares)									121,169	123,094	118,004
Effect of convertible operating partnership units (in shares)									16,130	14,278	16,594
Denominator for diluted earnings per share (in shares)									137,299	137,372	134,598
(Loss) earnings per common share from continuing operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)									$ (0.24)	$ 0.06	$ 0.02
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations - Investors Real Estate Trust - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)									0.50	0.43	0.09
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE – BASIC & DILUTED	$ 0.23	$ 0.16	$ 0.07	$ (0.20)	$ 0.07	$ 0.30	$ 0.11	$ 0.01	$ 0.26	$ 0.49	$ 0.11