Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Nov. 02, 2019
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000886136
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	SGA
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Class A Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,012,150
Class B Common Stock
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		922,918