Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 04, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000886136
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 191,974,321
Trading Symbol	SGA
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,025,256
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		922,918