Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,374	$ 1,324	$ 1,342	$ 1,273	$ 1,290	$ 1,263	$ 1,302	$ 1,196	$ 5,313	$ 5,051	$ 4,702
Operating profit	424	410	582	501	(1,148)	366	476	420	1,917	113	1,358
Income (loss) from continuing operations	276	281	381	329	(984)	215	310	268	1,268	(191)	874
Income from discontinued operations					163	2	6	7	0	178	592
Net income (loss)	276	281	381	329	(821)	217	316	275	1,268	(13)	1,466
Net income attributable to McGraw Hill Financial common shareholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	248	252	353	303	(1,009)	188	286	241	1,156	(293)	783
Income from discontinued operations					163	2	6	7	0	178	593
Net income (loss)	$ 248	$ 252	$ 353	$ 303	$ (846)	$ 190	$ 292	$ 248	$ 1,156	$ (115)	$ 1,376
Income (loss) from continuing operations:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.92	$ 0.93	$ 1.29	$ 1.11	$ (3.71)	$ 0.69	$ 1.05	$ 0.89	$ 4.26	$ (1.08)	$ 2.85
Diluted (in dollars per share)	0.91	0.92	1.28	1.10	(3.71)	0.68	1.04	0.87	4.21	(1.08)	2.80
Income from discontinued operations:
Basic (in dollars per share)					0.60	0.01	0.02	0.02	0.00	0.66	2.16
Diluted (in dollars per share)					0.60	0.01	0.02	0.02	0.00	0.66	2.12
Net income (loss):
Basic (in dollars per share)	0.92	0.93	1.29	1.11	(3.11)	0.70	1.08	0.91	4.26	(0.42)	5.01
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.91	$ 0.92	$ 1.28	$ 1.10	$ (3.11)	$ 0.69	$ 1.06	$ 0.89	$ 4.21	$ (0.42)	$ 4.91