Product Service Total revenue Cash and equivalents Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns) Inventory, Net Total inventories Inventories Deferred income taxes Total current assets Other assets noncurrent Property and equipment - at cost Less: accumulated depreciation Less: accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Less: accumulated depreciation Net property and equipment Goodwill - net Goodwill - net Total assets Notes payable Income taxes currently payable Deferred revenue current Deferred gain on sale-leaseback Deferred gain on sale leaseback Other current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-term debt Deferred tax liabilities noncurrent Other deferred credits noncurrent Deferred gain on sale-leaseback Other non-current liabilities Total other liabilities Total liabilities Common stock Additional paid-in capital Retained income Accumulated other comprehensive loss Less: common stock in treasury - at cost Less: common stock in treasury - at cost Treasury Stock, Value, Ending Balance Treasury Stock, Value, Beginning Balance Less: common stock in treasury - at cost Total equity - controlling interests Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total shareholders' equity - controlling interests Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and equity Net income Depreciation Amortization of intangibles Amortization of prepublication costs Provision for losses on accounts receivable Share-based Compensation Total stock-based compensation expense Stock-based compensation Accounts receivable Inventories Accounts payable and accrued expenses Increase decrease in deferred revenue Increase decrease in other operating liabilities Net change in prepaid/accrued income taxes Net change in other assets and liabilities Cash provided by operating activities Investments in prepublication costs. Investments in prepublication costs Purchase of property and equipment Additions to technology projects Additions to technology projects Additions to technology projects Additions to technology projects Cash used for investing activities Additions to short-term debt - net Proceeds from (Repayments of) Short-term Debt Additions to short-term debt, net Dividends paid to shareholders Exercise of stock options Excess tax benefits from share-based payments Cash (used for)/provided by financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Net change in cash and equivalents Cash and equivalents at beginning of period Cash and equivalents at end of period Net income attributable to The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Dividend declared per common share Product Service Selling and general expenses Total expenses Income from operations Interest expense - net Income before taxes on income Provision for taxes on income Basic Diluted Basic Selling General And Administrative Expense Abstract Operating-related expenses Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Comprehensive Income [Text Block] Comprehensive Income Segment and Related Information [Text Block] Segment and Related Information Stock-Based Compensation [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Debt [Text Block] Debt Retirement Plans and Postretirement Healthcare and Other Benefits [Text Block] Retirement Plans and Postretirement Healthcare and Other Benefits Sale Leaseback Transaction Disclosure [Text Block] Sale-Leaseback Income Taxes [Text Block] Income Taxes Commitments and Contingencies [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Recently Issued Accounting Standards [Text Block] Recently Issued or Adopted Accounting Standards Prepaid and other current assets Segment and Related Information Segment and Related Information [Abstract] Allowances, Inventories and Accumulated Amortization of Prepublication Costs Allowances, Inventories and Accumulated Amortization of Prepublication Costs [Abstract] Debt Debt [Abstract] Common Shares Outstanding Common Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Allowances, Inventories and Accumulated Amortization of Prepublication Costs [Text Block] Allowances, Inventories and Accumulated Amortization of Prepublication Costs Allowances, Inventories and Accumulated Amortization of Prepublication Costs Allowances, Inventories and Accumulated Amortization of Prepublication Costs Sum of Prepaid and Other Current Assets as of the balance sheet date. Prepaid and other current assets Prepublication costs (net of accumulated amortization) Prepublication costs (net of accumulated amortization) Total investments and other assets Total investments and other assets Copyrights - net Copyrights - net Copyrights - net Other intangible assets - net Other intangible assets - net Other intangible assets - net Net goodwill and other intangible assets Net goodwill and intangible assets Net goodwill and intangible assets Direct Operating Costs Abstract Costs And Expenses Abstract Revenues Abstract Total shareholders' equity - noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Total equity - noncontrolling interests Amount of Consolidated net income attributable to the parent Stockholders Equity Abstract Equity: Liabilities Noncurrent Abstract Liabilities Current Abstract Liabilities And Stockholders Equity Abstract LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Goodwill and other intangible assets: Goodwill and other intangible assets Abstract Goodwill and other intangible assets. Investments and other assets: Investments and other assets Abstract Total investments and other assets. Deferred tax assets net noncurrent Assets Current Abstract Assets Abstract Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Abstract Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract Increase Decrease In Operating Capital Abstract Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract Service Selling and general expenses Service Selling and general expenses Service. Product Selling and general expenses Product Selling and general expenses Product. Segment and Related Information [Abstract] Allowances, Inventories and Accumulated Amortization of Prepublication Costs [Abstract] Debt [Abstract] Common Shares Outstanding [Abstract] Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Investment in prepublication costs Earnings Per Share Abstract Acquisitions and Dispositions [Abstract] Acquisitions and Dispositions [Abstract] Acquisitions and Dispositions Acquisitions and Dispositions [Text Block] Acquisitions and Dispositions Acquisitions and Dispositions Net income Assets for pension benefits Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning Balance Total equity Accounts payable Accrued royalties Liability for pension and other postretirement benefits Other Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans Depreciation Depreciation Net change in deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Product Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Total revenue Revenues Product Cost of Goods Sold Operating-related expenses Cost of Revenue Product Selling and general expenses Selling, General and Administrative Expense Amortization of intangibles Income from operations Operating Income (Loss) Income before taxes on income Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Net income Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Basic Earnings Per Share, Basic Diluted Earnings Per Share, Diluted Cash and equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts and sales returns) Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Prepaid and other current assets Prepublication costs (net of accumulated amortization) Investments and other assets: Other Other Total investments and other assets Property and equipment - at cost Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Beginning Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Goodwill and other intangible assets: Notes payable Short-term Borrowings Other current liabilities Other current liabilities Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current Long-term debt Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Liability for pension and other postretirement benefits Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent Other non-current liabilities Other non-current liabilities Retained income Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Beginning Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Ending Balance Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Net income attributable to The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Prepaid and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Accounts payable and accrued expenses Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Net change in other assets and liabilities Investment in prepublication costs Purchase of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Excess tax benefits from share-based payments Net change in cash and equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Acquisitions and Dispositions [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Common Shares Outstanding [Text Block] Common Shares Outstanding Common Shares Outstanding. Prepaid and other current assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Revenue Expenses Operating-related Selling and general Earnings per common share: ASSETS Current assets: Current liabilities: Other liabilities: Cash flows from operating activities Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and dispositions: Cash flows from investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Dividends paid to shareholders Dividends paid to shareholders Investments in prepublication costs Purchase of property and equipment Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Total Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Beginning Balance Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current, Ending Balance Assets for pension benefits Assets for pension benefits Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Noncurrent, Total Goodwill, Beginning Balance Goodwill, Ending Balance Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Accrued royalties Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans Employee-related Liabilities, Current, Total Income taxes currently payable Unearned revenue Deferred Revenue, Current, Total Deferred income taxes Commitments and Contingencies (Note 12) Commitments and Contingencies Common stock Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Additional paid-in capital Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Amortization of intangibles Amortization of prepublication costs Provision for losses on accounts receivable Other Accounts receivable Unearned revenue Other current liabilities Net change in prepaid/accrued income taxes Exercise of stock options Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Sales Revenue, Services, Net Cost of Services Operating Expenses Interest Expense Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Assets, Current Prepublication Costs Net Of Accumulated Amortization Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Assets Liabilities, Noncurrent Liabilities Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Average number of common shares outstanding including the effect of dilutive securities Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) [Abstract] Statements of Income [Abstract] Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Balance Sheets [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) [Abstract] Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Sale-Leaseback [Abstract] Sale-Leaseback [Abstract] Recently Issued or Adopted Accounting Standards [Abstract] Recently Issued or Adopted Accounting Standards [Abstract] Retirement Plans and Postretirement Healthcare and Other Benefits [Abstract] Retirement Plans and Postretirement Healthcare and Other Benefits [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation Restructuring [Abstract] Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document And Entity Information Abstract. Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract] Average number of common shares outstanding: Reconciliation of the number of shares used for calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share Average number of common shares outstanding Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic, Total Diluted Short-term Investments Short-term Investments, Total Short-term investments Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill), Total Indefinite-lived intangible assets Payments to Acquire Short-term Investments Change in short-term investments Change in short-term investments Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Restructuring Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Total Income Taxes [Abstract] Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Disposition of property and equipment