Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 18, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0000043196
Entity Registrant Name	GRAY TELEVISION INC
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-13796
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	GA
Entity Tax Identification Number	58-0285030
Entity Address, Address Line One	4370 Peachtree Road
Entity Address, City or Town	NE Atlanta
Entity Address, State or Province	GA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	30319
City Area Code	404
Local Phone Number	504-9828
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 2,006,295,444
Auditor Name	RSM US LLP
Auditor Location	Atlanta, Georgia
Auditor Firm ID	49
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A common stock (no par value)
Trading Symbol	GTN.A
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		7,560,937
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	common stock (no par value)
Trading Symbol	GTN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		87,742,758