Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Product Service Revenues Total Company Revenue Total revenue Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and equivalents at end of period Cash and equivalents at beginning of period Cash and equivalents Accounts Receivable, Net, Current Accounts receivable, net Inventory, Net Total inventories Inventories Deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes Total current assets Other assets noncurrent Other non-current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property and equipment, net Goodwill - net Goodwill Assets Total assets Accrued Income Taxes Current Deferred revenue current Unearned revenue Other current liabilities Other current liabilities Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities Long-term debt Long-term debt Other non-current liabilities Other non-current liabilities Total liabilities Common stock Common stock Additional paid-in capital Additional paid-in capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax Accumulated other comprehensive loss Less: common stock in treasury - at cost Less: common stock in treasury Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Total equity - controlling interests Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and equity Net income Net income attributable to The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Net Income Depreciation Depreciation Amortization of intangibles Amortization of intangibles 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 Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities 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 Net change in other assets and liabilities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Cash provided by operating activities Investments in prepublication costs Investment in prepublication costs The cash outflow associated with the development of educational programs prior to their publication. Cash used for investing activities Dividends paid to shareholders Dividends paid to shareholders Exercise of stock options Exercise of stock options Excess tax benefits from share-based payments Excess tax benefits from share-based payments Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash used for financing activities Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net change in cash and equivalents Dividend declared per common share Dividend declared per common share Cost of Goods Sold Product Service Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling and general expenses Operating Expenses Total expenses Operating Income (Loss) Total Company Operating Profit Income from operations Interest Expense Interest expense, net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects of Changes in Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Total Company Operating Profit Income before taxes on income Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Provision for taxes on income Earnings Per Share, Basic Basic EPS Basic Earnings Per Share, Diluted Diluted EPS Diluted Basic Basic Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic Cost of Revenue Total operating-related expenses Segment and Related Information Segment and Related Information Stock-Based Compensation Debt Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Income Taxes Income Taxes Commitments and Contingencies [Text Block] Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Prepaid and other current assets Debt [Abstract] Debt Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Prepaid and other current assets Prepaid and other current assets The sum of amounts paid in advance for capitalized costs that will be expensed with the passage of time or the occurrence of a trigger event, and will be charged against earnings within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer and the aggregate carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of current assets not separately presented elsewhere in the balance sheet. Current assets are expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the normal operating cycle), if longer. Prepublication costs (net of accumulated amortization) Prepublication costs, net Direct costs incurred in the development of educational programs and titles prior to their publication, net of accumulated amortization. Prepublication costs are amortized from the year of publication over their estimated useful lives, one to six years. Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Direct Operating Costs Abstract Operating-related expenses Costs And Expenses Abstract Revenue: Revenues Abstract Total shareholders' equity - noncontrolling interests Total equity - noncontrolling interests Stockholders Equity Abstract Equity : Liabilities Current Abstract Liabilities And Stockholders Equity Abstract LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Assets Current Abstract Assets Abstract ASSETS Financing Activities: Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Abstract Investing Activities: Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Abstract Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisitions and dispositions: Increase Decrease In Operating Capital Abstract Operating Activities: Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Abstract Debt [Abstract] Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Earnings per common share: Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Acquisitions and Dispositions Text Block Acquisitions and Dispositions Acquisitions and Dispositions Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Total equity Accounts payable Accounts payable Accrued royalties Accrued royalties Pension and Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plans, Liabilities, Noncurrent Pension and other postretirement benefits Adjustments Noncash Items To Reconcile Net Income Loss To Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Other Other Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred income taxes Stock-Based Compensation Debt Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Restructuring Expenses Current assets: Current liabilities: Income taxes currently payable Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and contingencies (Note 13) Amortization of prepublication costs Provision for losses on accounts receivable Unearned revenue Other current liabilities Net change in prepaid/accrued income taxes 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 Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table] Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items] Sales Revenue, Services, Net Cost of Services Assets, Current Liabilities Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - dilutive Diluted Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract] Statements of Income [Abstract] Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Balance Sheets [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Employee Benefits [Abstract] Employee Benefits [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation Restructuring [Abstract] Acquisitions and Dispositions (Details) [Abstract] Acquisitions and Dispositions Details Abstract. Acquisitions and Dispositions Textuals Abstract Acquisitions and Dispositions (Textuals) [Abstract] Acquisitions and Dispositions Textuals Abstract. Reconciliation Of Number Of Shares Used For Calculating Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Text Block Reconciliation of the number of shares used for calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share Reconciliation of the number of shares used for calculating basic and diluted earnings per common share. 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 Effect of stock options and other dilutive securities Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Outstanding shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for both restricted stock and stock options Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, by Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Stock Options [Member] Stock Based Compensation (Tables) [Abstract] Stock-based compensation. Stock Based Compensation Text Block Stock-Based Compensation Stock-Based Compensation. Restructuring (Details) [Abstract] Restructuring. Restructuring Textuals Abstract Restructuring (Textuals) Restructuring. Restructuring Plan, 2006 [Member] Restructuring Plan, 2006. Restructuring Plan, 2008 [Member] Restructuring Plan, 2008. Restructuring Plan, 2009 [Member] Restructuring Plan, 2009. Workforce reduction, positions Workforce reduction, positions. Workforce reduction, positions Mcgraw Hill Information And Media Member I&M [Member] McGraw-Hill Information and Media. Mcgraw Hill Education Member MHE [Member] McGraw-Hill Education. Restructuring Charges Pre-tax restructuring charge Restructuring reserve, current Restructuring reserve, Current Restructuring and Related Cost, by Type of Restructuring [Axis] Type of Restructuring [Domain] Stock-Based Compensation (Details) [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation. Restricted stock and unit awards expense Restricted Stock Expense Stock Option Plan Expense Stock option expense Effective tax rate Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations Sale Leaseback Transaction, Deferred Gain, Net Deferred gain Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table] Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost Service cost Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost Interest cost Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets Expected return on assets Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit) Amortization of prior service credit Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses) Amortization of actuarial loss Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost Net periodic benefit cost Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures, Defined Benefit Plans [Axis] Defined Benefit Plans [Domain] Pension Plans Defined Benefit [Member] Pension Benefits [Member] Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Text Block] Components of net periodic cost for defined benefit plans and post-retirement healthcare and other benefits plan Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Defined Benefit [Member] Post-retirement Plans [Member] Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Repurchase of treasury shares Amount paid for share repurchase Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items] Schedule of Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures [Table] Segment and Related Information (Tables) [Abstract] Segment And Related Information. Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Text Block] Segment information Segment Reporting Information, Revenue from External Customers Revenue Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) Operating Profit Debt (Details) [Abstract] Debt. Debt (Tables) [Abstract] Debt. Senior Notes One Member 5.900% Senior Notes, due 2017 [Member] Senior Notes One. Senior Notes Two Member 6.550% Senior Notes, due 2037 [Member] Senior Notes Two. Three Years Facility Member 3 Year Facility [Member] 3 year facility member. Line of Credit Facility [Axis] Line of Credit Facility, Lender [Domain] 5.375% Senior Notes, due 2012 [Member] Schedule of Short and Long-term Debt [Text Block] Short-term and long-term debt outstanding Long-term Debt, Unclassified [Abstract] Short-term and long-term debt outstanding Long-term Debt Total debt Debt, Current Less: short-term debt including current maturities Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity Size of total commercial paper program Debt (Textuals) [Abstract] Debt (Textuals) Debt Textuals Abstract. Common Shares Outstanding (Textuals) [Abstract] Common Shares Outstanding Textuals Abstract. Common Shares Outstanding (Textuals) Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table] Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Short-term Investments Short-term investments Commitment fee Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Description Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash Restructuring charges paid Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount Unamortized debt discount on senior notes Payments for (Proceeds from) Short-term Investments Changes in short-term investments