Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	$ 3,185,974	$ 2,889,121	$ 2,932,099
Operating Costs and Expenses
Selling, general and administrative	831,853	715,401	717,659
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	71,415	74,257	59,253
Amortization of intangible assets	57,870	56,780	53,243
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets	32,940	30,170	9,152
Total Operating Costs and Expenses	3,108,599	2,788,714	2,787,553
Income from Operations	77,375	100,407	144,546
Equity in earnings of affiliates, net	17,914	6,664	11,664
Interest income	3,409	3,871	6,151
Interest expense	(33,943)	(38,310)	(29,779)
Non-operating pension and postretirement benefit income, net	109,230	59,315	162,798
Gain on marketable equity securities, net	243,088	60,787	98,668
Other income, net	32,554	214,534	32,431
Income Before Income Taxes	449,627	407,268	426,479
Provision for Income Taxes	96,300	107,300	98,600
Net Income	353,327	299,968	327,879
Net (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(1,252)	397	(24)
Net Income Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders	$ 352,075	$ 300,365	$ 327,855
Per Share Information Attributable to Graham Holdings Company Common Stockholders
Basic net income per common share (in USD per share)	$ 70.65	$ 58.30	$ 61.70
Basic average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	4,951	5,124	5,285
Diluted net income per common share (in USD per share)	$ 70.45	$ 58.13	$ 61.21
Diluted average number of common shares outstanding (in shares)	4,965	5,139	5,327
Services [Member]
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	$ 2,089,800	$ 2,056,228	$ 2,111,035
Operating Costs and Expenses
Cost of services and goods	1,243,384	1,239,241	1,315,928
Goods [Member]
Operating Revenues
Operating Revenues	1,096,174	832,893	821,064
Operating Costs and Expenses
Cost of services and goods	$ 871,137	$ 672,865	$ 632,318