Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 04, 2013 Common Class A [Member]	Mar. 04, 2013 Common Class B [Member]
Entity Registrant Name	SAGA COMMUNICATIONS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000886136
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 135,219,569
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			4,875,507	796,309