DOCUMENT AND ENTITY INFORMATION - shares	9 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Jun. 08, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	MAYS J W INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000054187
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--07-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Trading Symbol	mays
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,015,780
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes