Capital Stock, Stock Awards, and Stock Options (Earnings Per Share) (Details 5) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income from continuing operations attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	$ 55,638	$ 56,016	$ 52,295	$ 25,942	$ (51,039)	$ 56,257	$ 41,550	$ 24,322	$ 189,891	$ 71,090		$ 150,464
Less: Dividends paid-common stock outstanding and unvested restricted shares									0	(146,432)		(74,575)
Undistributed earnings (losses)									189,891	(75,342)		75,889
Percent allocated to common stockholders (1)									98.45%	100.00%	[1]	98.98%
Undistributed earnings allocated to common stockholders									186,948	(75,342)		75,115
Add: Dividends paid-common stock outstanding									0	143,175		73,831
Numerator for basic earnings per share									186,948	67,833		148,946
Add: Additional undistributed earnings due to dilutive stock options									5	0		0
Numerator for diluted earnings per share									$ 186,953	$ 67,833		$ 148,946
Denominator for basic earnings per share:	7,266	7,231	7,229	7,227	7,223	7,272	7,431	7,514	7,238	7,360		7,826
Denominator for diluted earnings per share	7,347	7,337	7,283	7,266	7,223	7,376	7,545	7,615	7,250	7,360		7,826
Income Per Share From Continuing Operations To Common Stockholders [Abstract]
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations	$ 7.54	$ 7.55	$ 7.05	$ 3.50	$ (7.35)	$ 7.58	$ 5.48	$ 3.17	$ 25.83	$ 9.22		$ 19.03
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations	$ 7.52	$ 7.53	$ 7.05	$ 3.50	$ (7.35)	$ 7.58	$ 5.48	$ 3.17	$ 25.78	$ 9.22		$ 19.03
Employee Stock Option [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Add: Effect of dilutive stock options									12	0		0

[1] Percent of undistributed losses allocated to common stockholders is 100% in 2012 as participating securities are not contractually obligated to share in losses.