Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share Information) (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec:
Net income (loss), continuing operations - basic (in dollars)	[1]	$ 131,263	$ (79,110)	$ 122,375
Interest expense, net of tax, convertible notes (in dollars)		0	0	181
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec - diluted (in dollars)		131,263	(79,110)	116,104
Net loss from discontinued operations - basic and diluted (in dollars)	[1]	$ 0	$ 0	$ (6,452)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic		80,372	80,489	79,953
Dilutive common stock equivalents (in shares)		1,022	0	813
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted		81,394	80,489	86,196
Convertible Debt [Member]
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Dilutive premium shares, convertible notes		0	0	5,430
Continuing Operations [Member]
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec:
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec - diluted (in dollars)		$ 131,263	$ (79,110)	$ 122,556

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