Dividends - Additional Information (Detail) £ / shares in Units, £ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017 GBP (£) £ / shares
Disclosure of Dividends [abstract]
Dividends proposed per share \| £ / shares	£ 12.0
Dividends proposed estimated effect on shareholders' funds \| £	£ 93

Dividends proposed estimated effect on shareholders' funds.

No definition available.

Name:	pso_DividendsProposedEstimatedEffectOnShareholdersFunds
Namespace Prefix:	pso_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration