Percentage of accounts receivable balance of major customers.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of Major Customers

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 720
-SubTopic 35
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Antidilution
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257

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- Definition

Amount of write-down of assets recognized in the income statement. Includes, but is not limited to, losses from tangible assets, intangible assets and goodwill.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68055307&loc=d3e2420-110228

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

The total amount of cash and securities held by third party trustees pursuant to terms of debt instruments or other agreements as of the date of each statement of financial position presented, which can be used by the trustee only to pay the noncurrent portion of specified obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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- Definition

Amount of net assets (liabilities).

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 946
-SubTopic 225
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-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-09(6))
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-05(4))
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-09(7))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488393&loc=d3e606914-122999

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts which could be received based on the terms of the insurance contract upon surrendering life policies owned by the entity.

+ References

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- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 18
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- Definition

Amount billed to customers under long-term contracts or programs that have been withheld because of retainage provisions in a contract.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 910
-SubTopic 310
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(c)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Fixed interest rate related to the interest rate derivative.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Date the entity entered into the derivative contract, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

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Date the derivative contract matures, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The aggregate costs incurred (1) in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process; or (2) to translate research findings or other knowledge into a plan or design for a new product or process or for a significant improvement to an existing product or process whether intended for sale or the entity's use, during the reporting period charged to research and development projects, including the costs of developing computer software up to the point in time of achieving technological feasibility, and costs allocated in accounting for a business combination to in-process projects deemed to have no alternative future use.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 985
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756

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- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of unbilled receivables under long-term contracts that have not been billed and were not billable.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-SubTopic 310
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68065756&loc=d3e49336-109356

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 USD ($) Store shares	Apr. 30, 2016 USD ($) shares	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($) shares	Jun. 24, 2013	May 31, 2013 USD ($)
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 34,579,000	$ 30,371,000	$ 36,329,000	$ 37,279,000	$ 34,090,000	$ 32,410,000	$ 31,037,000	$ 31,089,000	$ 138,558,000	$ 128,626,000	$ 118,828,000
Unbilled receivables	450,000				323,000				450,000	323,000
Property plant and equipment impairment charges									0	0	0
Assets held in trust account for non-qualified benefit plans included in other assets	3,748,000				3,867,000				3,748,000	3,867,000
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies included in other assets	75,000				62,000				75,000	62,000
Retainage included in accounts receivable	$ 2,839,000				1,562,000				$ 2,839,000	$ 1,562,000
Total accounts receivable									25.00%	24.00%
Research and development costs									$ 1,163,000	$ 1,167,000	936,000
Advertising costs									$ 352,000	$ 311,000	$ 404,000
Anti-dilutive options exclude from computation of earning per share \| shares									39,200	110,100	80,800
Stock options granted \| shares									45,200	40,200	45,800
May 1, 2013 to August 1, 2017 [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Outstanding advances under the long-term debt													$ 3,450,000
Interest rate swap, conversion rate	4.875%								4.875%
Interest rate swap, beginning date of conversion									May 01, 2013
Interest rate swap, ending date of conversion									Aug. 01, 2017
August 1, 2017 to May 1, 2020 [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Outstanding advances under the long-term debt													2,600,000
Interest rate swap, conversion rate	4.37%								4.37%
Interest rate swap, beginning date of conversion									Aug. 01, 2017
Interest rate swap, ending date of conversion									May 01, 2020
November 3, 2014 to May 1, 2020 [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Outstanding advances under the long-term debt													$ 1,218,000
Interest rate swap, conversion rate	3.07%								3.07%
Interest rate swap, beginning date of conversion									Nov. 03, 2014
Interest rate swap, ending date of conversion									May 01, 2020
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of domestic customers \| Store									2
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] \| Sales Revenue, Segment [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Total sales percentage									38.00%	40.00%	36.00%
Number of domestic customers \| Store									3
Kewaunee Labway Asia Pte. Ltd. [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest in subsidiaries	100.00%								100.00%			49.00%
Kewaunee Labway India Pvt. Ltd. [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest in subsidiaries	90.00%								90.00%
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest in subsidiaries	100.00%								100.00%
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation Singapore Pte. Ltd. [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest in subsidiaries	100.00%								100.00%
Kewaunee Scientific Corporation China [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of controlling interest in subsidiaries	100.00%								100.00%
Subsidiaries [Member]
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Net assets	$ 12,268,000				$ 12,298,000				$ 12,268,000	$ 12,298,000
Net sales									$ 25,477,000	$ 25,579,000	$ 25,730,000