Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 974,225	$ 1,003,268
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization	884,401	886,414
Depreciation and amortization	39,008	42,598
General and administrative expenses	60,048	74,030
Interest expense (income), net	12,158	10,973
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,066)	585
Other (income) expense, net	(13,356)	(592)
Loss before income taxes	(4,968)	(10,740)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	2,087	4,352
Net loss (income) before equity in losses from subsidiaries	(2,900)	(6,400)
Equity in losses from subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Net loss	(2,881)	(6,388)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(189)	(125)
Net loss attributable to MasTec, Inc.	(2,692)	(6,263)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(5,267)	(28,416)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | MasTec, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	600	600
Interest expense (income), net	0	0
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	0	0
Other (income) expense, net	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(600)	(600)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	200	200
Net loss (income) before equity in losses from subsidiaries	(400)	(400)
Equity in losses from subsidiaries, net of tax	(2,300)	(5,900)
Net loss	(2,700)	(6,300)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to MasTec, Inc.	(2,700)	(6,300)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(5,100)	(28,300)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue	878,100	803,000
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization	777,200	682,700
Depreciation and amortization	31,300	32,300
General and administrative expenses	50,000	66,200
Interest expense (income), net	27,400	27,100
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	0	0
Other (income) expense, net	(11,300)	(900)
Loss before income taxes	3,400	(4,400)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(1,300)	1,700
Net loss (income) before equity in losses from subsidiaries	2,100	(2,700)
Equity in losses from subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Net loss	2,100	(2,700)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to MasTec, Inc.	2,100	(2,700)
Comprehensive (loss) income	2,100	(2,700)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue	96,100	201,700
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization	107,200	205,100
Depreciation and amortization	7,700	10,300
General and administrative expenses	9,400	7,200
Interest expense (income), net	(15,200)	(16,100)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,100)	600
Other (income) expense, net	(2,100)	300
Loss before income taxes	(7,800)	(5,700)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	3,200	2,400
Net loss (income) before equity in losses from subsidiaries	(4,600)	(3,300)
Equity in losses from subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Net loss	(4,600)	(3,300)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(200)	(100)
Net loss attributable to MasTec, Inc.	(4,400)	(3,200)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(7,000)	(25,400)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue	0	(1,400)
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization	0	(1,400)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
General and administrative expenses	0	0
Interest expense (income), net	0	0
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	0	0
Other (income) expense, net	0	0
Loss before income taxes	0	0
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	0	0
Net loss (income) before equity in losses from subsidiaries	0	0
Equity in losses from subsidiaries, net of tax	2,300	5,900
Net loss	2,300	5,900
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to MasTec, Inc.	2,300	5,900
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ 4,700	$ 28,000