Document and Entity Information (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Dec. 02, 2011 Class A Nonvoting Common Stock	Dec. 02, 2011 Class B Common Stock
Entity Registrant Name	BRADY CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000746598
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Oct. 31, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
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		$ 1,488,000,246
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			48,892,686	3,538,628