Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Summary of the Activity in the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (Detail) - Allowance for doubtful accounts [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Feb. 02, 2020	Jan. 27, 2019
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Beginning balance	$ 393	$ 357
(Recovery) provision for bad debts	(16)	78
Net write-offs, net of recoveries		(47)
Ending balance	$ 377	$ 388

Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, charged to costs and expenses, net of adjustment.

No definition available.

Name:	culp_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpenseNetOfAdjustment
Namespace Prefix:	culp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration