Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Operating Revenues [Abstract]
Education	$ 377,033	$ 386,936	$ 1,136,706	$ 1,207,086
Advertising	69,495	86,531	207,143	225,590
Other	210,697	148,171	572,180	419,635
Total Operating Revenues	657,225	621,638	1,916,029	1,852,311
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract]
Operating	352,635	293,194	1,011,553	880,859
Selling, general and administrative	232,782	237,694	678,139	709,344
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	16,002	16,097	46,525	48,903
Amortization of intangible assets	10,923	6,620	28,290	19,160
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	312	0	9,536	0
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	612,654	553,605	1,774,043	1,658,266
Income from Operations	44,571	68,033	141,986	194,045
Equity in (losses) earnings of affiliates, net	(532)	(1,008)	1,448	(895)
Interest income	861	740	3,397	2,052
Interest expense	(8,619)	(8,614)	(25,783)	(24,533)
Other income (expense), net	1,963	(18,225)	6,881	15,871
Income Before Income Taxes	38,244	40,926	127,929	186,540
Provision for Income Taxes	13,400	7,800	40,000	54,000
Net Income	24,844	33,126	87,929	132,540
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(60)	0	(63)	(868)
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders	24,784	33,126	87,866	131,672
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders	$ 24,553	$ 32,695	$ 87,047	$ 129,963
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 4.45	$ 5.90	$ 15.74	$ 23.33
Basic average number of common shares outstanding in shares	5,518	5,544	5,530	5,570
Diluted net income per common share in dollars per share	$ 4.42	$ 5.87	$ 15.64	$ 23.21
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding in shares	5,554	5,574	5,567	5,600