Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2020	Feb. 18, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Nonvoting Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Entity Address, Address Line One	6555 West Good Hope Road
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	WI
Document Transition Report	false
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jan. 31, 2020
Entity File Number	1-14959
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	BRC
Entity Registrant Name	BRADY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000746598
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--07-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Tax Identification Number	39-0178960
Entity Address, City or Town	Milwaukee,
Entity Address, State or Province	WI
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	53223
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
City Area Code	414
Local Phone Number	358-6600
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Class A nonvoting common stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		49,811,300
Class B voting common stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,538,628