CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Series A Preferred Stock [Member] ACCUMULATED DISTRIBUTIONS IN EXCESS OF NET INCOME [Member]	Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Series B Preferred Stock [Member] ACCUMULATED DISTRIBUTIONS IN EXCESS OF NET INCOME [Member]	Series B Preferred Stock [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, 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
Balance at Apr. 30, 2017					$ 111,357	$ 916,121	(466,541)	75,157	636,094
Balance (in shares) at Apr. 30, 2017					4,600	121,199
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Investors Real Estate Trust and noncontrolling interests							(11,264)	(1,844)	(13,108)
Distributions - common shares and units							(8,444)	(1,065)	(9,509)
Distributions - preferred shares			$ (2,286)	$ (2,286)					(2,286)
Shares issued and share-based compensation						$ 469			469
Shares issued and share-based compensation (in shares)						75
Redemption of units for cash								(5,735)	(5,735)
Shares repurchased						$ (3,936)			(3,936)
Shares repurchased (in shares)						(682)
Distributions to nonredeemable noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities								(20)	(20)
Other						$ (29)			(29)
Other (in shares)						(5)
Balance at Jul. 31, 2017					$ 111,357	$ 912,625	$ (488,535)	$ 66,493	$ 601,940
Balance (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2017					4,600	120,587