Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues:
Site leasing	$ 1,860,858	$ 1,740,434	$ 1,623,173
Site development	153,787	125,261	104,501
Total revenues	2,014,645	1,865,695	1,727,674
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing	373,951	372,296	359,527
Cost of site development	119,080	96,499	86,785
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	192,717	142,526	130,697
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses	15,228	10,961	12,367
Asset impairment and decommission costs	33,103	27,134	36,697
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization	697,078	672,113	643,100
Total operating expenses	1,431,157	1,321,529	1,269,173
Operating income	583,488	544,166	458,501
Other income (expense):
Interest income	5,500	6,731	11,337
Interest expense	(390,036)	(376,217)	(323,749)
Non-cash interest expense	(3,193)	(2,640)	(2,879)
Amortization of deferred financing fees	(22,466)	(20,289)	(21,940)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net	(457)	(14,443)	(1,961)
Other income (expense), net	14,053	(85,624)	(2,418)
Total other expense, net	(396,599)	(492,482)	(341,610)
Income before income taxes	186,889	51,684	116,891
Provision for income taxes	(39,605)	(4,233)	(13,237)
Net income	147,284	47,451	103,654
Net (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(293)
Net income attributable to SBA Communications Corporation	$ 146,991	$ 47,451	$ 103,654
Net income per common share attributable to SBA Communications Corporation:
Basic	$ 1.30	$ 0.41	$ 0.86
Diluted	$ 1.28	$ 0.41	$ 0.86
Weighted average number of common shares
Basic	112,809	114,909	119,860
Diluted	114,693	116,515	121,022