Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	WILEY JOHN & SONS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000107140
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-30
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jul. 31, 2018
Common Stock Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		48,401,058
Common Stock Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,143,493