Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 547,181	$ 548,230	$ 1,073,355	$ 1,076,045
Subscriber	187,723	192,273	378,851	379,063
Advertising	82,475	79,898	160,722	149,020
Other	61,249	50,103	106,261	86,968
Total Operating Revenues	878,628	870,504	1,719,189	1,691,096
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	398,279	394,841	777,348	771,386
Selling, general and administrative	322,714	319,170	648,351	653,394
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	52,017	56,879	105,262	115,838
Amortization of intangible assets	3,360	3,313	6,441	7,030
Impairment of intangible assets	7,774	0	7,774	0
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	784,144	774,203	1,545,176	1,547,648
Income from Operations	94,484	96,301	174,013	143,448
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	91,503	3,868	95,555	7,286
Interest income	641	522	1,240	1,032
Interest expense	(8,557)	(9,048)	(17,377)	(18,008)
Other income (expense), net	268,114	(12,858)	401,387	(16,941)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	446,185	78,785	654,818	116,817
Provision for Income Taxes	76,800	31,700	154,200	47,500
Income from Continuing Operations	369,385	47,085	500,618	69,317
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	380,465	(1,951)	381,537	(18,924)
Net Income	749,850	45,134	882,155	50,393
Net Loss (Income) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	499	(253)	718	(350)
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company	750,349	44,881	882,873	50,043
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(212)	(206)	(638)	(650)
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	750,137	44,675	882,235	49,393
Amounts Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations	369,672	46,626	500,698	68,317
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	380,465	(1,951)	381,537	(18,924)
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	$ 750,137	$ 44,675	$ 882,235	$ 49,393
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 49.68	$ 6.28	$ 67.35	$ 9.21
Basic income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations in dollars per share	$ 51.12	$ (0.26)	$ 51.30	$ (2.55)
Basic net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 100.80	$ 6.02	$ 118.65	$ 6.66
Basic average number of common shares outstanding in shares	7,284	7,229	7,280	7,228
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 49.52	$ 6.28	$ 67.13	$ 9.21
Diluted income (loss) per common share from discontinued operations in dollars per share	$ 50.96	$ (0.26)	$ 51.13	$ (2.55)
Diluted net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 100.48	$ 6.02	$ 118.26	$ 6.66
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding in shares	7,363	7,283	7,361	7,276