Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share Information) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net (loss) income attributable to MasTec:
Net (loss) income, continuing operations - basic (in dollars)	[1]	$ (79,110)	$ 122,375	$ 147,492
Interest expense, net of tax, convertible notes (in dollars)		0	181	315
Net (loss) income attributable to MasTec - diluted (in dollars)		(79,110)	116,104	141,265
Net loss from discontinued operations - basic and diluted (in dollars)	[1]	$ 0	$ (6,452)	$ (6,542)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		80,489	79,953	76,923
Dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)		0	813	777
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted		80,489	86,196	84,901
Convertible Debt [Member]
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Dilutive premium shares, convertible notes		0	5,430	7,201
Continuing Operations [Member]
Net (loss) income attributable to MasTec:
Net (loss) income attributable to MasTec - diluted (in dollars)		$ (79,110)	$ 122,556	$ 147,807

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