Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 372,975	$ 401,006
Advertising	64,116	68,158
Other	145,626	132,576
Total Operating Revenues	582,717	601,740
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	300,666	291,632
Selling, general and administrative	231,509	235,213
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	14,652	16,761
Amortization of intangible assets	6,836	6,262
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	553,663	549,868
Income from Operations	29,054	51,872
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	649	1,004
Interest income	1,363	591
Interest expense	(8,129)	(7,948)
Other income, net	849	15,096
Income Before Income Taxes	23,786	60,615
Provision for Income Taxes	2,700	22,400
Net Income	21,086	38,215
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	(435)
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders	21,086	37,780
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 21,086	$ 37,780
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share in dollars per share	$ 3.77	$ 6.63
Basic net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 3.77	$ 6.63
Basic average number of common shares outstanding in shares	5,535	5,623
Diluted income per common share in dollars per share	$ 3.75	$ 6.59
Diluted net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 3.75	$ 6.59
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding in shares	5,569	5,652