Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - B&N Education, LLC $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)
Transaction Agreement [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 5,246	$ 5,246
Discontinued Operations
Transaction Agreement [Line Items]
Fee charged for purchases of inventory and direct costs incurred	$ 22,673
Maximum
Transaction Agreement [Line Items]
Transition services agreement period		2 years
Minimum
Transaction Agreement [Line Items]
Tax matters agreement period		2 years

Amounts due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business.

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(3))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(5))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant