Earnings Per Share (Details 1) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	$ 33,126	$ (231,222)	$ 131,672	$ (194,625)
Less: Dividends paid-common stock outstanding and unvested restricted shares	(6,796)	(6,736)	(27,329)	(53,090)
Undistributed earnings (loss)	$ 26,330	$ (237,958)	$ 104,343	$ (247,715)
Percent allocated to common stockholders	98.70%	100.00%	98.70%	100.00%
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated To Common Stockholders	$ 25,987	$ (237,958)	$ 102,987	$ (247,715)
Add: Dividends paid-common stock outstanding	6,708	6,621	26,976	52,180
Numerator for basic earnings (loss) per share	32,695	(231,337)	129,963	(195,535)
Add: Additional undistributed earnings due to dilutive stock options	2	0	7	0
Numerator for diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 32,697	$ (231,337)	$ 129,970	$ (195,535)
Weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	5,544	5,738	5,570	5,721
Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per share (shares)	5,574	5,738	5,600	5,721
Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders:
Basic income (loss) per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 5.90	$ (40.32)	$ 23.33	$ (34.18)
Diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 5.87	$ (40.32)	$ 23.21	$ (34.18)
Stock Option Plan [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Add: Effect of dilutive stock options (shares)	30	0	30	0