Capital Stock, Stock Awards, and Stock Options (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 year	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011	Oct. 03, 2010	Jul. 04, 2010	Apr. 04, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 year	Jan. 02, 2011 year	Jan. 03, 2010	Dec. 28, 2008
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders	$ 60,105	$ (3,698)	$ 46,906	$ 17,091	$ 78,149	$ 85,513	$ 101,892	$ 53,735	$ 120,404	$ 319,289	$ 156,853
Less: Amount attributable to participating securities									(1,211)	(1,970)	(1,075)
Basic income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders									119,193	317,319	155,778
Plus: Amount attributable to participating securities									1,211	1,970	1,075
Diluted income from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post Company common stockholders									$ 120,404	$ 319,289	$ 156,853
Average number of common shares outstanding, basic	7,601,000	7,802,000	7,852,000	8,046,000	8,336,000	8,839,000	9,126,000	9,175,000	7,826,000	8,869,000	9,332,000
Effect of dilutive shares [Abstract]
Stock options and restricted stock									79,000	62,000	60,000
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	7,682,000	7,802,000	7,933,000	8,119,000	8,385,000	8,904,000	9,193,000	9,241,000	7,905,000	8,931,000	9,392,000
(Loss) income per share from continuing operations attributable to The Washington Post company common shareholders:
Basic	$ 7.82	$ (0.50)	$ 5.91	$ 2.11	$ 9.32	$ 9.61	$ 11.08	$ 5.81	$ 15.23	$ 35.77	$ 16.70
Diluted	$ 7.82	$ (0.50)	$ 5.91	$ 2.11	$ 9.32	$ 9.60	$ 11.08	$ 5.81	$ 15.23	$ 35.75	$ 16.70
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Shares Outstanding	129,044				87,919				129,044	87,919	90,569	87,025
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)	8.2								8.2
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 494.95				$ 495.05				$ 494.95	$ 495.05	$ 525.44	$ 581.17
Options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable	45,585								45,585
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)									6.1
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 552.49								$ 552.49
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expected life (years)									7	7
Interest rate										2.51%
Interest rate, minimum									1.49%
Interest rate, maximum									2.85%
Volatility										30.19%
Volatility, minimum									30.35%
Volatility, maximum									31.24%
Dividend yield										2.27%
Dividend yield, minimum									2.11%
Dividend yield, maximum									2.74%
Exercise Price Range of $343-$396 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Shares Outstanding	36,250								36,250
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)	8.4								8.4
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 385.62								$ 385.62
Options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable	14,938								14,938
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)									7.8
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 380.08								$ 380.08
Exercise Price Range of $419-$439 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Shares Outstanding	23,294								23,294
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)	8.0								8.0
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 423.25								$ 423.25
Options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable	11,647								11,647
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)									8.0
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 423.25								$ 423.25
Exercise Price $503 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Shares Outstanding	50,000								50,000
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)	10.0								10.0
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 502.58								$ 502.58
Options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable	0								0
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)									0
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 0								$ 0
Exercise Price $652 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Shares Outstanding	2,000								2,000
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)	7.0								7.0
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 651.91								$ 651.91
Options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable	1,500								1,500
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)									7.0
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 651.91								$ 651.91
Exercise Price Range of $729-$763 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Shares Outstanding	13,000								13,000
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)	3.4								3.4
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 731.94								$ 731.94
Options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable	13,000								13,000
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)									3.4
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 731.94								$ 731.94
Exercise Price $816 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Shares Outstanding	1,500								1,500
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)	2.0								2.0
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 816.05								$ 816.05
Options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable	1,500								1,500
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)									2.0
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 816.05								$ 816.05
Exercise Price $954 [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Options Outstanding, Shares Outstanding	3,000								3,000
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)	3.0								3.0
Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 953.50								$ 953.50
Options Exercisable, Shares Exercisable	3,000								3,000
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (yrs.)									3.0
Options Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 953.50								$ 953.50