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Legal Proceedings - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
0 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Jul. 24, 2012
LegalMatter
Jun. 14, 2013
LegalMatter
Jan. 31, 2015
Aug. 27, 2012
LegalMatter
Apr. 17, 2012
LegalMatter
Aug. 05, 2011
LegalMatter
Apr. 23, 2013
LegalMatter
Nov. 27, 2013
LegalMatter
Jan. 25, 2013
LegalMatter
Technology Properties Limited                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of putative shareholder derivative complaints filed 1bks_NumberOfComplaintsFiled
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_TechnologyPropertiesMember
               
Legal Claim 1                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of putative shareholder derivative complaints filed   1bks_NumberOfComplaintsFiled
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_LegalClaim1Member
             
Damages awarded     $ 1,330us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_LegalClaim1Member
           
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of putative shareholder derivative complaints filed       1bks_NumberOfComplaintsFiled
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_CommonwealthScientificAndIndustrialResearchOrganisationMember
         
Kevin Khoa Nguyen                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of putative shareholder derivative complaints filed         1bks_NumberOfComplaintsFiled
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_KevinKhoaNguyenMember
       
Lina                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of putative shareholder derivative complaints filed           1bks_NumberOfComplaintsFiled
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_LinaMember
     
Jones                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of putative shareholder derivative complaints filed             1bks_NumberOfComplaintsFiled
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_JonesMember
   
Carag                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of putative shareholder derivative complaints filed               1bks_NumberOfComplaintsFiled
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_CaragMember
 
Trimmer                  
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                  
Number of putative shareholder derivative complaints filed                 1bks_NumberOfComplaintsFiled
/ us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis
= bks_TrimmerMember