Cover [Abstract] Entity Registrant Name Entity File Number Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Quarterly Report Document Transition Report Document Period End Date Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code Entity Tax Identification Number Amendment Flag Trading Symbol Title of 12(b) Security Security Exchange Name Entity Interactive Data Current Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, City or Town Entity Address, State or Province Entity Address, Postal Zip Code City Area Code Local Phone Number Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Emerging Growth Company Entity Shell Company Entity Small Business Consolidated Balance Sheets Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents Short-term Investments Short-term investments Total short-term investments Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $566 at October 30, 2021 and $595 at April 30, 2021 Unbilled Receivables, Not Billable Unbilled receivables and retentions (inclusive of related party unbilled receivables of $9,215 at October 30, 2021 and $544 at April 30, 2021) Inventory, Net Inventories Inventories, net Income Taxes Receivable, Current Income taxes receivable Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Assets, Current Total current assets Long-term Investments Long-term investments Total long-term investments Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset Operating lease right-of-use assets Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Intangibles, net Intangibles, net Goodwill Goodwill, Ending Balance Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill Goodwill Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Assets Total assets Total assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current liabilities: Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Employee-related Liabilities, Current Wages and related accruals Customer Advances, Current Customer advances Long-term Debt, Current Maturities Current portion of long-term debt Operating Lease, Liability, Current Current operating lease liabilities Accrued Income Taxes, Current Income taxes payable Other Liabilities, Current Other current liabilities Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Long-term debt, net of current portion Total long-term debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs - term loans Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent Non-current operating lease liabilities Other Liabilities, Noncurrent Other non-current liabilities Liability for Uncertain Tax Positions, Noncurrent Liability for uncertain tax positions Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent Deferred income taxes Commitments and Contingencies. Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Stockholders' equity: Preferred Stock, Value, Issued Authorized shares-10,000,000; none issued or outstanding at October 30, 2021 and April 30, 2021 Common Stock, Value, Issued Issued and outstanding shares-24,805,829 shares at October 30, 2021 and 24,777,295 shares at April 30, 2021 Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional paid-in capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Ending Balance Beginning Balance Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained earnings Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Balance Balance Total AeroVironment, Inc. stockholders' equity Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Balance, Ending Balance, Beginning Total equity Liabilities and Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable, Current Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars) Due from Related Parties Due from Related Parties Unbilled related party receivables Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized Preferred stock, Authorized shares Preferred Stock, Shares Issued Preferred stock, issued shares Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding Preferred stock, outstanding shares Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, Authorized shares Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, Issued shares Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Common stock, outstanding shares Consolidated Statements of Operations Statement [Table] Product and Service [Axis] Product and Service [Domain] Product sales Contract services Statement Line Items [Line Items] Statement Revenues [Abstract] Revenue: Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax Revenue Cost of Revenue [Abstract] Cost of sales: Cost of Goods and Services Sold Cost of sales Gross Profit: Gross margin: Gross Profit Gross margin Total gross margin Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative Research and Development Expense Research and development Operating Income (Loss) Income (loss) from operations Income (loss) from operations Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other (loss) income: Investment Income, Interest Interest (expense) income, net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other (expense) income, net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest (Loss) income before income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (Benefit from) provision for income taxes Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Equity method investment income (loss), net of tax Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net (loss) income Net income (loss) Net income (loss) Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest. Amount Of Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net income (loss) Net income (loss) attributable to AeroVironment, Inc. Net income (loss) Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract] Net income (loss) per share attributable to AeroVironment-Basic Earnings Per Share, Basic Net income (loss) per share attributable to AeroVironment-basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract] Net income (loss) per share attributable to AeroVironment-Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted Net income per share attributable to AeroVironment, Inc.-Diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Weighted-average shares outstanding: Denominator for basic earnings per share: Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Basic (in shares) Weighted average common shares Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Diluted (in shares) Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share Related party revenue Revenue Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss): Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments, net of deferred tax benefit of $0 and $1 for the six months ended October 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively Unrealized loss on investments Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Change in foreign currency translation adjustments Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to AeroVironment, Inc. Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities, Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Unrealized losses, tax portion Unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments, deferred tax benefit Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Parent Common Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Non-controlling Interest Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity Shares, Issued Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest Net Income (loss) including non-controlling interest Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, before Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Foreign currency translation Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Stock options exercised Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period Stock options exercised (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross Restricted stock awards (in shares) Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Forfeited Restricted stock awards forfeited (in shares) Restricted stock awards forfeited (in shares) Adjustments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation Tax withholding payment related to net share settlement of equity awards Shares Paid for Tax Withholding for Share Based Compensation Tax withholding payment related to net share settlement of equity awards (in shares) Noncontrolling Interest, Period Increase (Decrease) Change in non-controlling interest Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Stock-based compensation Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Operating activities Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Gross amount of income (loss) for proportionate share of equity method investee's income (loss). Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments, Gross (Income) losses from equity method investments Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs Amortization of debt issuance costs Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments Realized gain from sale of available-for-sale investments Provision for Doubtful Accounts Provision for doubtful accounts Other Noncash Income (Expense) Other non-cash expense (income) Amount of cash outflow from operating lease and non cash lease expense Non Cash Lease Expense Non-cash lease expense Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized Loss on foreign currency transactions Deferred Income Tax Noncash Expense (Benefit) Deferred income taxes Share-based Compensation Stock-based compensation Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment Loss on disposal of property and equipment Accretion (Amortization) of Discounts and Premiums, Investments Amortization of debt securities Increase (Decrease) in Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable This element represents the net change during the reporting period in the amount of unbilled receivables and retentions. Increase (Decrease) in Unbilled Contracts Receivable and Retentions Unbilled receivables and retentions Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Income Taxes Receivable Income taxes receivable Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Accounts payable Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Liabilities Other liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Investing activities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Acquisition of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Equity Method Investments Equity method investments Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities Redemptions of available-for-sale investments Payments to Acquire Available-for-sale Securities Purchases of available-for-sale investments Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities Other Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Financing activities Proceeds from (Repayments of) Debt Principal payment of loan Amount of cash outflow related to payments for holdback and retention payments for business acquisitions. Payments For Holdback And Retention Payments For Business Acquisitions Holdback and retention payments for business acquisition Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation Tax withholding payment related to net settlement of equity awards Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Exercise of stock options Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities Other Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effects of currency translation on cash and cash equivalents Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Including Disposal Group and Discontinued Operations Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information Cash paid, net during the period for: Income Taxes Paid Income taxes Interest Paid, Excluding Capitalized Interest, Operating Activities Interest Non-cash activities Available-for-sale Securities, Change in Net Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss), Net of Tax Unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments, net of deferred tax benefit of $0 and $1 for the six months ended October 30, 2021 and October 31, 2020, respectively Non cash or Part of non cash change in foreign currency translation adjustments. Non Cash or Part of Non Cash Change in Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Change in foreign currency translation adjustments Amount of inventory issued to property and equipment, , ISR in-service assets. Issuances of Inventory To Property And Equipment Issuances of inventory to property and equipment, ISR in-service assets