Document and Entity Information Document (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2012 Common Stock - $1 par value [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Class B Stock [Member]	Jul. 31, 2012 Common and Class B stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	MEREDITH CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000065011
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--06-30
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			35,771,147	8,715,877	44,487,024
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Public Float		$ 1,134,000,000