Earnings Per Share (Details 1) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net Income attributable to Graham Holdings Company common stockholders	$ 41,996	$ 60,766	$ 63,082	$ 98,546
Less: Dividends paid-common stock outstanding and unvested restricted shares	(7,080)	(6,775)	(21,282)	(20,533)
Undistributed earnings	$ 34,916	$ 53,991	$ 41,800	$ 78,013
Percent allocated to common stockholders	99.06%	98.68%	99.06%	98.68%
Undistributed Earnings Allocated To Common Stockholders	$ 34,588	$ 53,277	$ 41,407	$ 76,981
Add: Dividends paid-common stock outstanding	7,013	6,685	21,082	20,264
Numerator for basic earnings per share	41,601	59,962	62,489	97,245
Add: Additional undistributed earnings due to dilutive stock options	3	4	3	5
Numerator for diluted earnings per share	$ 41,604	$ 59,966	$ 62,492	$ 97,250
Weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	5,539	5,544	5,537	5,584
Denominator for diluted earnings per share (shares)	5,577	5,574	5,573	5,613
Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders:
Basic income per common share in dollars per share	$ 7.51	$ 10.82	$ 11.29	$ 17.42
Diluted income per common share in dollars per share	$ 7.46	$ 10.76	$ 11.21	$ 17.33
Stock Option Plan [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Add: Effect of dilutive stock options (shares)	38	30	36	29