Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	WILEY JOHN & SONS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0000107140
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--04-30
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Common Stock Class A [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0
Common Stock Class B [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		0