Basis of Presentation and Summary of Critical Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Jan. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Summary of Critical Accounting Policies	Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Critical Accounting Policies In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts therein. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results in future periods may differ from those estimates. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The balance sheet at May 2, 2015 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but it does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended May 2, 2015, which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year. Daktronics, Inc. operates on a 52 to 53 week fiscal year, with our fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to April 30 of each year. When April 30 falls on a Wednesday, the fiscal year ends on the preceding Saturday. Within each fiscal year, each quarter is comprised of 13 week periods following the beginning of each fiscal year. In each 53 week year, an additional week is added to the first quarter and each of the last three quarters is comprised of a 13 week period. Fiscal 2015 was a 53-week year; therefore, the nine months ended January 30, 2016 contained operating results for 39 weeks while the nine months ended January 31, 2015 contained operating results for 40 weeks. Certain reclassifications in the Consolidated Balance Sheets' categories of prepaid expenses and other assets and investment in affiliates and other assets have been made to conform fiscal 2015 to the fiscal 2016 classifications for comparative purposes. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which provides new guidance related to accounting for leases and supercedes existing U.S. GAAP on lease accounting. The main difference between the existing guidance on accounting for leases and the new standard is that operating leases will not be recorded in the statement of financial position as assets and liabilities. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which affects accounting for equity investments and financial liabilities where the fair value option has been elected. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, which early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes. Under the new accounting standard, deferred tax assets and liabilities are required to be classified as noncurrent, eliminating the prior requirement to separate deferred tax assets and liabilities into current and noncurrent. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The standard may be adopted prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting ASU 2015-17 will have on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which changes the measurement principle of inventory from the lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. The guidance will require prospective application at the beginning of our first quarter of fiscal 2018, but it permits adoption in an earlier period. We have evaluated the effect of adopting ASU 2015-11 and will adopt the standard at the beginning of fiscal year 2017. There will be no material impact to our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which was issued as a new topic, Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606. The new revenue recognition standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle of the guidance is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This standard will also result in enhanced disclosures about revenue, providing guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively and improving guidance for multiple-element arrangements. The FASB recently announced plans to defer the effective adoption date for one year. ASU 2014-09 is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2019 and can be adopted by the Company either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.

Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Critical Accounting Policies

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts therein. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results in future periods may differ from those estimates.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The balance sheet at May 2, 2015 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date, but it does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended May 2, 2015, which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full fiscal year.

Daktronics, Inc. operates on a 52 to 53 week fiscal year, with our fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to April 30 of each year. When April 30 falls on a Wednesday, the fiscal year ends on the preceding Saturday. Within each fiscal year, each quarter is comprised of 13 week periods following the beginning of each fiscal year. In each 53 week year, an additional week is added to the first quarter and each of the last three quarters is comprised of a 13 week period. Fiscal 2015 was a 53-week year; therefore, the nine months ended January 30, 2016 contained operating results for 39 weeks while the nine months ended January 31, 2015 contained operating results for 40 weeks.

Certain reclassifications in the Consolidated Balance Sheets' categories of prepaid expenses and other assets and investment in affiliates and other assets have been made to conform fiscal 2015 to the fiscal 2016 classifications for comparative purposes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which provides new guidance related to accounting for leases and supercedes existing U.S. GAAP on lease accounting. The main difference between the existing guidance on accounting for leases and the new standard is that operating leases will not be recorded in the statement of financial position as assets and liabilities. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, which affects accounting for equity investments and financial liabilities where the fair value option has been elected. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, which early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new accounting guidance will have on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes. Under the new accounting standard, deferred tax assets and liabilities are required to be classified as noncurrent, eliminating the prior requirement to separate deferred tax assets and liabilities into current and noncurrent. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The standard may be adopted prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting ASU 2015-17 will have on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which changes the measurement principle of inventory from the lower of cost or market to the lower of cost and net realizable value. The guidance will require prospective application at the beginning of our first quarter of fiscal 2018, but it permits adoption in an earlier period. We have evaluated the effect of adopting ASU 2015-11 and will adopt the standard at the beginning of fiscal year 2017. There will be no material impact to our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which was issued as a new topic, Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 606. The new revenue recognition standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle of the guidance is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This standard will also result in enhanced disclosures about revenue, providing guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively and improving guidance for multiple-element arrangements. The FASB recently announced plans to defer the effective adoption date for one year. ASU 2014-09 is effective for us beginning in fiscal 2019 and can be adopted by the Company either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated results of operations, cash flows, and financial position.