Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 492	$ 934	$ 851
Foreign currency translation adjustment	29	(35)	(9)
Income tax effect, foreign currency translation adjusment	(19)	11	13
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of income tax effect	10	(24)	4
Pension and other postretirement benefit plans	(164)	(45)	(37)
Income tax effect, pension and other post-retirment benefit plans	63	9	11
Pension and other post-retirement benefit plans, net of income tax effect	(101)	(36)	(26)
Unrealized (loss) gain on investment and forward exchange contract	(4)	(12)	5
Income tax effect, unrealized gain (loss) on investments and forward exchange contracts	2	4	(2)
Unrealized loss on investments and forward exchange contracts, net of income tax effect	(2)	(8)	3
Comprehensive income	399	866	832
Less: comprehensive income attributable to nonredeemable noncontrolling interests	(20)	(13)	(27)
Less: comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(34)	0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.	$ 345	$ 853	$ 805