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Other Non-Operating Income (Expense) (Details 1) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Investment [Line Items]                      
Gain on sale of an equity affiliate                 $ 396,553us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal $ 0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal $ 0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
Gain on Berkshire exchange                 266,733ghc_GainOnBerkshireExchange 0ghc_GainOnBerkshireExchange 0ghc_GainOnBerkshireExchange
Marketable Securities, Realized Gain (Loss)                 (3,044)us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss (9,559)us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss (17,564)us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesRealizedGainLoss
Gain (Loss) On Sale of Building       127,700ghc_GainLossOnSaleofBuilding         127,670ghc_GainLossOnSaleofBuilding 0ghc_GainLossOnSaleofBuilding 0ghc_GainLossOnSaleofBuilding
Gain on sale of intangible asset                 75,249us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets 0us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets 0us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfIntangibleAssets
Foreign currency (losses) gains, net                 (11,129)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax (13,382)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax 3,132us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax
Cost-method Investments, Realized Gain (Loss)                 (94)us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsRealizedGainLoss (1,761)us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsRealizedGainLoss 6,639us-gaap_CostMethodInvestmentsRealizedGainLoss
Other, net                 1,321us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingGainsLosses 951us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingGainsLosses 2,337us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingGainsLosses
Other income (expense), net 387,346us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense 64,526us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense 268,114us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense 133,273us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (14,920)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense 8,110us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (12,858)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (4,083)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense 853,259us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (23,751)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense (5,456)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Classified Ventures LLC [Member]                      
Investment [Line Items]                      
Gain on sale of an equity affiliate                 $ 396,553us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ghc_ClassifiedVenturesLlcMember
$ 0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ghc_ClassifiedVenturesLlcMember
$ 0us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentRealizedGainLossOnDisposal
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= ghc_ClassifiedVenturesLlcMember