The period in which facility review agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	jwa_PeriodForReviewingOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	jwa_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
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Debt and Available Credit Facilities (Details) (Revolving Credit Facility [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 22, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 22, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014
Credit Facilities [Line Items]
Amount of financing available under credit facilities	$ 50	$ 50	$ 50	$ 50
Term of credit facility	30 days	364 days
Borrowing rate description	LIBOR plus an initial applicable margin of 1.0%	LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.80% to 1.40%
Period for reviewing outstanding amount	30 days
Remaining outstanding amount	$ 50		$ 50
Minimum [Member]
Credit Facilities [Line Items]
Facility fee (in hundredths)		0.125%
Maximum [Member]
Credit Facilities [Line Items]
Facility fee (in hundredths)		0.30%
LIBOR [Member]
Credit Facilities [Line Items]
Variable rate (in hundredths)	1.00%
LIBOR [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Credit Facilities [Line Items]
Variable rate (in hundredths)		0.80%
LIBOR [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Credit Facilities [Line Items]
Variable rate (in hundredths)		1.40%