Discontinued Operations (Operating Results After Reclassifying Certain Operations As Discontinued Operations) (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 526,174	$ 555,011	$ 546,452	$ 548,230	$ 527,815	$ 2,177,508	$ 2,196,496
Subscriber	191,128	186,297	190,302	192,273	186,790	755,662	732,370
Advertising	78,247	87,692	73,549	79,898	69,122	310,261	337,621
Other	45,012	42,635	48,651	50,103	36,865	178,254	118,063
Total Operating Revenues	840,561	871,635	858,954	870,504	820,592	3,421,685	3,384,550
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	379,069	375,876	395,436	394,841	376,545	1,542,698	1,543,083
Selling, general and administrative	325,637	332,207	327,560	319,170	334,224	1,313,161	1,318,946
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	53,245	58,954	54,705	56,879	58,959	229,497	240,313
Amortization of intangible assets	3,081	3,731	2,837	3,313	3,717	13,598	20,946
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets		3,250	0	0	0	3,250	111,593
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	761,032	774,018	780,538	774,203	773,445	3,102,204	3,234,881
Income from Operations	79,529	97,617	78,416	96,301	47,147	319,481	149,669
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	4,052	37	5,892	3,868	3,418	13,215	14,086
Interest income	599	590	642	522	510	2,264	3,393
Interest expense	(8,820)	(8,838)	(9,221)	(9,048)	(8,960)	(36,067)	(35,944)
Other income (expense), net	133,273	(14,920)	8,110	(12,858)	(4,083)	(23,751)	(5,456)
Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes	208,633	74,486	83,839	78,785	38,032	275,142	125,748
Provision for Income Taxes	77,400	24,100	29,900	31,700	15,800	101,500	73,400
Income from Continuing Operations	131,233	50,386	53,939	47,085	22,232	173,642	52,348
(Loss) Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,072	106,142	(23,515)	(1,951)	(16,973)	63,703	79,839
Net Income	132,305	156,528	30,424	45,134	5,259	237,345	132,187
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	219	(55)	(75)	(253)	(97)	(480)	(74)
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company	132,524	156,473	30,349	44,881	5,162	236,865	132,113
Redeemable Preferred Stock Dividends	(426)	0	(205)	(206)	(444)	(855)	(895)
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	132,098	156,473	30,144	44,675	4,718	236,010	131,218
Amounts Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Income from continuing operations	131,026	50,331	53,659	46,626	21,691	172,307	51,379
(Loss) Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,072	106,142	(23,515)	(1,951)	(16,973)	63,703	79,839
Net income attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	$ 132,098	$ 156,473	$ 30,144	$ 44,675	$ 4,718	$ 236,010	$ 131,218
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic income per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 17.71	$ 6.82	$ 7.23	$ 6.28	$ 2.92	$ 23.44	$ 6.54
Basic (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations in dollars per share	$ 0.14	$ 14.38	$ (3.16)	$ (0.26)	$ (2.28)	$ 8.66	$ 10.85
Basic net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 17.85	$ 21.20	$ 4.07	$ 6.02	$ 0.64	$ 32.10	$ 17.39
Diluted income per common share from continuing operations in dollars per share	$ 17.65	$ 6.80	$ 7.22	$ 6.28	$ 2.92	$ 23.40	$ 6.54
Diluted (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations in dollars per share	$ 0.14	$ 14.34	$ (3.17)	$ (0.26)	$ (2.28)	$ 8.65	$ 10.85
Diluted net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 17.79	$ 21.14	$ 4.05	$ 6.02	$ 0.64	$ 32.05	$ 17.39