Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [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, 2014		87,614,955
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,148,075	$ 8,762	$ (45,573)	$ 756,688	$ 457,788	$ (34,004)	$ 1,143,661	$ 4,414
Beginning balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			(2,876,311)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	(79,703)				(79,110)		(79,110)	(593)
Other comprehensive income (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 of shares withheld for taxes (in shares)		53,674
Other stock issuances, net of shares withheld for taxes	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
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	943,391	$ 8,820	$ (145,573)	769,996	378,678	(72,351)	939,570	3,821
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			(8,094,004)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	134,035				131,263		131,263	2,772
Other comprehensive income (loss)	6,537					6,537	6,537
Non-cash stock-based compensation	15,072			15,072			15,072
Income tax effect from stock-based compensation	(107)			(107)			(107)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		202,700
Exercise of stock options	2,053	$ 20		2,033			2,053
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares)		2,115,672
Issuance of restricted shares	0	$ 212		(212)			0
Other stock issuances, net of shares withheld for taxes (in shares)		118,925
Other stock issuances, net of shares withheld for taxes	2,143	$ 11		2,132			2,143
Other activity, net	$ 510						0	510
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	90,634,771	90,634,771
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 1,103,634	$ 9,063	$ (145,573)	788,914	509,941	(65,814)	1,096,531	7,103
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	(8,094,004)		(8,094,004)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	$ 348,884				347,213		347,213	1,671
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,102					2,102	2,102
Non-cash stock-based compensation	15,656			15,656			15,656
Issuance of restricted shares (in shares)		393,570
Issuance of restricted shares	0	$ 39		(39)			0
Shares withheld for taxes, net of other share activity (in shares)		(92,757)
Shares withheld for taxes, net of other share activity	(3,085)	$ (8)		(3,077)			(3,085)
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost (in shares)			(38,807)
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost	(1,551)		$ (1,551)				(1,551)
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(1,280)						0	(1,280)
Purchase of non-controlling interests	$ (31,007)			(26,067)			(26,067)	(4,940)
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	90,935,584	90,935,584
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,433,353	$ 9,094	$ (147,124)	$ 775,387	$ 857,154	$ (63,712)	$ 1,430,799	$ 2,554
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017	(8,132,811)		(8,132,811)