Percentage Of Common Stock Available For Purchase Through Warrants

No definition available.

Name:	bks_PercentageOfCommonStockAvailableForPurchaseThroughWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	bks_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of Ownership Interest Related Parties

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bks_PercentageOfOwnershipInterestRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix:	bks_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	bks_ScheduleOfActivitiesAndTransactionsAssociatedWithRelatedCostLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	bks_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Warrants Fair Value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bks_WarrantsFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	bks_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares of equity interests issued or issuable to acquire entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35744584&loc=d3e6927-128479

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestsIssuedOrIssuableNumberOfSharesIssued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of subsidiary's or equity method investee's stock owned by parent immediately after all stock transactions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiaryOrEquityMethodInvesteeCumulativePercentageOwnershipAfterAllTransactions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=bks_PearsonPlcMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Pearson - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015	Dec. 22, 2014	May 03, 2014	Jan. 25, 2014	Jan. 22, 2013
Schedule Of Activities And Transactions Associated With Related Cost [Line Items]
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001		$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Pearson Plc
Schedule Of Activities And Transactions Associated With Related Cost [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price paid in cash	$ 89,500
Percentage of common membership interest	5.00%				5.00%
Percentage of common membership interest owned by Pearson plc	78.20%
Preferred membership Interest	16.80%
Warrants purchase	5.00%
Fair value of warrants	1,700
Pearson Plc \| Common Stock
Schedule Of Activities And Transactions Associated With Related Cost [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price, paid by shares		602,927
Common stock, par value		$ 0.001
Pearson Plc \| Series B Preferred
Schedule Of Activities And Transactions Associated With Related Cost [Line Items]
Aggregate purchase price paid in cash		$ 13,750