Name:	jwa_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss
Namespace Prefix:	jwa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount of assets, net of accumulated impairment, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit.

No definition available.

Name:	jwa_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillNetOfAccumulatedImpairment
Namespace Prefix:	jwa_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-SubTopic 30
-Topic 350
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482640/350-30-55-40

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480265/350-10-S45-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(16))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

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

Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-SubTopic 30
-Topic 350
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482640/350-30-55-40

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480265/350-10-S45-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 928
-SubTopic 340
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478859/928-340-50-1

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

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

Amount of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance and having a projected indefinite period of benefit.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-SubTopic 30
-Topic 350
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482640/350-30-55-40

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480265/350-10-S45-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

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

Amount before accumulated amortization of intangible assets, excluding goodwill.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(15))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480566/210-10-S99-1

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

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

Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482665/350-30-50-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482686/350-30-45-1

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TrademarksAndTradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_ArtisticRelatedIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_ArtisticRelatedIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TrademarksAndTradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: