Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted Income (Loss) Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015	Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Numerator for basic income (loss) per share:
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc		$ 80,262	$ 38,977	$ 45,308	$ 35,891
Inducement fee paid upon conversion of Series J preferred stock				(3,657)
Preferred stock dividends			(3,942)		(11,825)
Preferred stock dividends paid in shares				(1,783)
Accretion of dividends on preferred stock			(5,507)	(4,204)	(7,024)
Less allocation of dividends to participating securities		(307)		(999)
Less allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities		(1,871)	(1,591)		(995)
Net income from continuing operations available to common shareholders		78,084	27,937	34,665	16,047
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.			33,191	(39,146)	20,126
Less allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			(1,788)		(1,175)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations			31,403	(39,146)	18,951
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders		78,084	59,340	(4,481)	34,998
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Net income from continuing operations available to common shareholders		78,084	27,937	34,665	16,047
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations available to common shareholders.			33,191	(39,146)	20,126
Net income from continuing operations available to common shareholders		78,086	27,940	34,665	16,048
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders		$ 78,086	59,346	(4,481)	35,000
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations			$ 31,403	$ (39,146)	$ 18,951
Denominator for basic income (loss) per share:
Basic weighted average common shares		74,856	61,589	71,987	60,056
Denominator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Basic weighted average common shares		74,856	61,589	71,987	60,056
Preferred shares	[1]	0	0	0	0
Average dilutive options		68	122	136	72
Average dilutive non-participating securities				1
Diluted weighted average common shares		74,924	61,711	72,124	60,128
Basic income (loss) per common share:
Income from continuing operations		$ 1.04	$ 0.45	$ 0.48	$ 0.27
Income (loss) from discontinued operations			0.51	(0.54)	0.32
Basic income (loss) per common share		1.04	0.96	(0.06)	0.58
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
Income from continuing operations		1.04	0.45	0.48	0.27
Income (loss) from discontinued operations			0.51	(0.54)	0.32
Diluted income (loss) per common share		$ 1.04	$ 0.96	$ (0.06)	$ 0.58
Continuing Operations
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Preferred stock dividends	[1]	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Accretion of dividends on preferred stock	[1]	0	0	0	0
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities		1,871	1,591		995
Less diluted allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities		$ (1,869)	(1,588)		(994)
Discontinued Operations
Numerator for basic income (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Barnes & Noble, Inc.			31,403	(39,146)	18,951
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations			31,406	(39,146)	18,952
Numerator for diluted income (loss) per share:
Allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			1,788		1,175
Less diluted allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities			(1,785)		(1,174)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations available to common shareholders.			31,403	(39,146)	18,951
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations			$ 31,406	$ (39,146)	$ 18,952

[1] Although the Company was in a net income position during the 13 weeks ended January 31, 2015 and the 39 weeks ended January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015, the dilutive effect of the Company's convertible preferred shares were excluded from the calculation of income per share using the two-class method because the effect would be antidilutive.