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Acquisitions, Dispositions and Exchanges Acquisitions, Dispositions and Exchanges (Acquired assets and liabilities assumed) (Details 1) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Goodwill $ 1,348,710us-gaap_Goodwill $ 1,288,622us-gaap_Goodwill $ 1,317,915us-gaap_Goodwill
2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Cash and cash equivalents 4,143us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCashAndEquivalents
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Accounts receivable 15,912us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsReceivables
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Other current assets 6,724us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentAssetsOther
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Property, plant and equipment 12,834us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Investments in Affiliates 8,556ghc_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedInvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Goodwill 128,919us-gaap_Goodwill
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Indefinite-lived intangible assets 12,051us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Amortized intangible assets 73,766us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Other noncurrent assets 1,215us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOtherNoncurrentAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Current liabilities (17,180)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedCurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Noncurrent liabilities (19,654)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNoncurrentLiabilities
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Redeemable oncontrolling interest (17,108)us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionOfLessThan100PercentNoncontrollingInterestFairValue
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Total 210,178us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedLessNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
   
Weighted Average Life 7 years    
Non-compete Agreements [Member] | 2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Amortized intangible assets 430us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_NoncompeteAgreementsMember
   
Weighted Average Life 3 years    
Student and Customer Relationships [Member] | 2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Amortized intangible assets 51,532us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
   
Weighted Average Life 6 years    
Databases and Technology [Member] | 2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Amortized intangible assets 150us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DatabasesMember
   
Weighted Average Life 3 years    
Trade Names and Trademarks [Member] | 2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Amortized intangible assets 20,254us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TrademarksAndTradeNamesMember
   
Weighted Average Life 8 years    
Other [Member] | 2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Amortized intangible assets 1,400us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
   
Weighted Average Life 3 years    
Trade name [Member] | 2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Indefinite-lived intangible assets 11,900us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
   
Other [Member] | 2014 Acquisitions [Member]      
Business Acquisition [Line Items]      
Indefinite-lived intangible assets $ 151us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssets
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= ghc_CurrentYearAcquisitionsMember
/ us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember