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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Document and Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information (USD $)	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010	May 31, 2011 Class A Nonvoting Common Stock	May 31, 2011 Class B voting common stock
Entity Registrant Name	BRADY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000746598
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Apr. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--07-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 1,281,152,775
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			49,278,752	3,538,628