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Segments and Related Information (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) segment	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Segment reporting information, factors used to identify entity's reportable segments						MasTec manages its continuing operations under five operating segments, which represent MasTec’s five reportable segments: (1) Communications; (2) Oil and Gas; (3) Electrical Transmission; (4) Power Generation and Industrial and (5) Other. This structure is generally focused on broad end-user markets for MasTec’s labor-based construction services.
Number of operating segments \| segment						5
Number of reportable segments \| segment						5
Segment reporting information, description of products and services						All five reportable segments derive their revenue from the engineering, installation and maintenance of infrastructure, primarily in North America.
Segment reporting, description of all other segments						The Other segment includes a proportionately consolidated non-controlled Canadian joint venture, equity method investments and other small business units that perform construction services in a variety of international end-markets.
Segment reporting, transactions between reportable segments						Intercompany revenue and costs among the reportable segments are de minimus and accounted for as if the sales were to third parties because these items are based on negotiated fees between the segments involved. All intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated in consolidation. Intercompany revenue and costs between entities within a reportable segment are eliminated to arrive at segment totals. Eliminations between segments are separately presented.
Segment reporting, additional information about entity's reportable segments						Segment results include certain allocations of centralized costs such as general liability, medical and workers’ compensation insurance and certain information technology costs. Income tax expense is managed by Corporate on a consolidated basis and is not allocated to the reportable segments.
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment						$ 78,625	$ 0	$ 0
General and administrative expenses (in dollars)						265,910	238,305	$ 215,402
Corporate [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment						78,600
Corporate [Member] \| Audit Committee Investigation [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
General and administrative expenses (in dollars)	$ 2,800	$ 4,100	$ 7,500	$ 3,000		$ 16,500
Pacer [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment	78,600
Communications [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Segment reporting information, description of products and services						The Communications segment performs engineering, construction and maintenance of communications infrastructure primarily related to wireless and wireline/fiber communications and install-to-the-home customers, and, to a lesser extent, infrastructure for electrical utilities , among others.
Business combinations, acquisition integration costs (in dollars)		1,200	7,800	8,800	$ 5,300	$ 17,800	5,300
Oil and Gas [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Segment reporting information, description of products and services						MasTec performs engineering, construction and maintenance services on oil and natural gas pipelines and processing facilities for the energy and utilities industries through its Oil and Gas segment.
Unrealized recognized losses on interest rate swaps, unconsolidated affiliates						$ 3,600	$ 300
Electrical Transmission [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Segment reporting information, description of products and services						The Electrical Transmission segment primarily serves the energy and utility industries through the engineering, construction and maintenance of electrical transmission lines and substations.
Electrical Transmission [Member] \| Contracts Accounted for under Percentage of Completion [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Project losses (in dollars)						$ 14,000
Electrical Transmission [Member] \| Resolved Litigation [Member] \| PPL [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Court mandated remediation settlement charge (in dollars)						$ 12,200
Power Generation and Industrial [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Segment reporting information, description of products and services						The Power Generation and Industrial segment primarily serves energy, utility and other end-markets through the installation and construction of conventional and renewable power facilities, related electrical transmission infrastructure, ethanol/biofuel facilities and various types of industrial infrastructure.
Power Generation and Industrial [Member] \| Contracts Accounted for under Percentage of Completion [Member] \| Canadian Dollars [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Project losses (in dollars)		3,800	$ 1,600	16,000		$ 21,400
Other [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Unrealized recognized losses on interest rate swaps, unconsolidated affiliates						4,400
Other [Member] \| Waha JVs [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Unrealized recognized losses on interest rate swaps, unconsolidated affiliates	4,400					4,400
Other [Member] \| Contracts Accounted for under Percentage of Completion [Member] \| Canadian Dollars [Member] \| Corporate Joint Venture [Member] \| Pacer [Member]
Segment and Related Information [Line Items]
Project losses (in dollars)	$ 8,000	$ 2,800		$ 5,500		$ 16,300