Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share Information) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec:
Net (loss) income, continuing operations - basic (in dollars)	[1]	$ (3,700)	$ 33,874	$ (9,963)	$ 46,093
Interest expense, net of tax, convertible notes (in dollars)		0	68	0	146
Net (loss) income attributable to MasTec - diluted (in dollars)		(3,700)	33,793	(9,963)	45,967
Net loss from discontinued operations - basic and diluted (in dollars)	[1]	$ 0	$ (149)	$ 0	$ (272)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		79,830	78,269	81,106	77,810
Dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)		0	750	0	799
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted		79,830	86,730	81,106	86,675
Convertible Debt [Member]
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Dilutive shares, convertible notes		0	7,711	0	8,066
Continuing Operations [Member]
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec:
Net (loss) income attributable to MasTec - diluted (in dollars)		$ (3,700)	$ 33,942	$ (9,963)	$ 46,239

[1] Calculated as total net (loss) income less amounts attributable to non-controlling interests.