Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 1,232,404	$ 1,066,629	$ 2,206,630	$ 2,069,896
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization		1,068,182	945,947	1,952,583	1,832,361
Depreciation and amortization		40,657	43,254	79,664	85,852
General and administrative expenses		67,852	69,250	127,900	143,279
Interest expense (income), net		12,639	12,907	24,797	23,880
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates		(489)	2,638	(3,555)	3,223
Other expense (income), net		1,524	(4,991)	(11,830)	(5,583)
Income (loss) before income taxes		42,039	(2,376)	37,071	(13,116)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes		(17,601)	(1,444)	(15,514)	2,908
Net income (loss) before equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries		24,400	(3,800)	21,600	(10,200)
Equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries, net of tax		0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)		24,438	(3,820)	21,557	(10,208)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		350	(120)	162	(245)
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec, Inc.	[1]	24,088	(3,700)	21,395	(9,963)
Comprehensive income (loss)		20,108	(511)	14,841	(28,927)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | MasTec, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue		0	0	0	0
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization		0	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization		0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses		600	600	1,200	1,300
Interest expense (income), net		0	0	0	0
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates		0	0	0	0
Other expense (income), net		0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes		(600)	(600)	(1,200)	(1,300)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes		200	300	500	500
Net income (loss) before equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries		(400)	(300)	(700)	(800)
Equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries, net of tax		24,400	(3,300)	22,100	(9,100)
Net income (loss)		24,000	(3,600)	21,400	(9,900)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec, Inc.		24,000	(3,600)	21,400	(9,900)
Comprehensive income (loss)		19,800	(400)	14,700	(28,700)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue		1,149,400	891,200	2,027,700	1,694,100
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization		995,000	784,700	1,772,300	1,467,400
Depreciation and amortization		31,700	32,700	63,000	65,000
General and administrative expenses		61,500	61,700	111,500	127,900
Interest expense (income), net		27,800	28,100	55,200	55,300
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates		0	0	0	0
Other expense (income), net		1,800	(4,800)	(9,400)	(5,700)
Income (loss) before income taxes		31,600	(11,200)	35,100	(15,800)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes		(12,600)	4,700	(14,000)	6,500
Net income (loss) before equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries		19,000	(6,500)	21,100	(9,300)
Equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries, net of tax		0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)		19,000	(6,500)	21,100	(9,300)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec, Inc.		19,000	(6,500)	21,100	(9,300)
Comprehensive income (loss)		19,000	(6,500)	21,100	(9,300)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue		93,500	178,500	189,500	380,300
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization		83,700	164,300	190,900	369,500
Depreciation and amortization		9,000	10,600	16,700	20,900
General and administrative expenses		5,800	7,000	15,200	14,100
Interest expense (income), net		(15,200)	(15,200)	(30,400)	(31,400)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates		(500)	2,600	(3,600)	3,200
Other expense (income), net		(300)	(200)	(2,400)	100
Income (loss) before income taxes		11,000	9,400	3,100	3,900
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes		(5,200)	(6,400)	(2,000)	(4,100)
Net income (loss) before equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries		5,800	3,000	1,100	(200)
Equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries, net of tax		0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)		5,800	3,000	1,100	(200)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		400	(100)	200	(200)
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec, Inc.		5,400	3,100	900	0
Comprehensive income (loss)		1,400	6,400	(5,600)	(18,900)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Unaudited Consolidating Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue		(10,500)	(3,100)	(10,600)	(4,500)
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization		(10,500)	(3,100)	(10,600)	(4,500)
Depreciation and amortization		0	0	0	0
General and administrative expenses		0	0	0	0
Interest expense (income), net		0	0	0	0
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates		0	0	0	0
Other expense (income), net		0	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes		0	0	0	0
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes		0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) before equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries		0	0	0	0
Equity in income (losses) from subsidiaries, net of tax		(24,400)	3,300	(22,100)	9,100
Net income (loss)		(24,400)	3,300	(22,100)	9,100
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec, Inc.		(24,400)	3,300	(22,100)	9,100
Comprehensive income (loss)		$ (20,100)	$ 0	$ (15,400)	$ 28,000

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