Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Contributed Shares [Member]	Capital Surplus [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Total MasTec, Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Non-Controlling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		85,915,552
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 861,875	$ 8,592	$ (150,000)	$ 0	$ 803,166	$ 200,915	$ (5,501)	$ 857,172	$ 4,703
Beginning balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			(9,467,286)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	141,216					140,950		140,950	266
Other comprehensive loss	(7,785)						(7,785)	(7,785)
Non-cash stock-based compensation	12,944				12,944			12,944
Income tax effect from stock-based compensation	4,315				4,315			4,315
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		513,254
Exercise of stock options	3,867	$ 51			3,816			3,867
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares)		68,122
Issuance of restricted shares	0	$ 7			(7)			0
Other stock issuances, net (in shares)		428,444
Other stock issuances, net	4,626	$ 42			4,584			4,626
Contributed shares (in shares)		(200,000)
Contributed shares	0	$ (20)		6,002	(5,982)			0
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		86,725,372
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,021,058	$ 8,672	$ (150,000)	6,002	822,836	341,865	(13,286)	1,016,089	4,969
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			(9,467,286)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	115,549					115,923		115,923	(374)
Other comprehensive loss	(20,718)						(20,718)	(20,718)
Non-cash stock-based compensation	15,950				15,950			15,950
Income tax effect from stock-based compensation	2,484				2,484			2,484
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		210,900
Exercise of stock options	2,246	$ 21			2,225			2,246
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares)		659,212
Issuance of restricted shares	0	$ 66			(66)			0
Other stock issuances, net (in shares)		19,471
Other stock issuances, net	(1,137)	$ 3			(1,140)			(1,137)
Contributed shares	0			(6,002)	6,002			0
Issuance of treasury stock for convertible notes (in shares)			6,590,975
Issuance of treasury stock for convertible notes	104,427		$ 104,427					104,427
Conversion of convertible notes	(91,784)				(91,784)			(91,784)
Other activity	$ 0				181			181	(181)
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	87,614,955	87,614,955
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,148,075	$ 8,762	$ (45,573)	0	756,688	457,788	(34,004)	1,143,661	4,414
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	(2,876,311)		(2,876,311)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	$ (79,703)					(79,110)		(79,110)	(593)
Other comprehensive loss	(38,347)						(38,347)	(38,347)
Non-cash stock-based compensation	12,395				12,395			12,395
Income tax effect from stock-based compensation	(597)				(597)			(597)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		81,971
Exercise of stock options	544	$ 8			536			544
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares)		446,874
Issuance of restricted shares	0	$ 45			(45)			0
Other stock issuances, net (in shares)		53,674
Other stock issuances, net	1,024	$ 5			1,019			1,024
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost (in shares)			(5,217,693)
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost	$ (100,000)		$ (100,000)					(100,000)
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	88,197,474	88,197,474
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 943,391	$ 8,820	$ (145,573)	$ 0	$ 769,996	$ 378,678	$ (72,351)	$ 939,570	$ 3,821
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	(8,094,004)		(8,094,004)