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, 2016		90,634,771
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 1,103,634	$ 9,063	$ (145,573)	$ 788,914	$ 509,941	$ (65,814)	$ 1,096,531	$ 7,103
Beginning balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			(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, net (in shares)		393,570
Issuance of restricted shares, net	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
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)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Cumulative effect of adoption, revenue recognition (Topic 606)	1,562				1,562		1,562
Net income (loss)	259,231				259,659		259,659	(428)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3,218					3,218	3,218
Non-cash stock-based compensation	13,527			13,527			13,527
Issuance of restricted shares, net (in shares)		385,392
Issuance of restricted shares, net	0	$ 39		(39)			0
Other stock issuances, net of shares withheld for taxes (in shares)		6,033
Other stock issuances, net of shares withheld for taxes	$ 134	$ 0		134			134
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost (in shares)	(7,200,000)		(7,197,006)
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost	$ (319,001)		$ (319,001)				(319,001)
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	91,327,009	91,327,009
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 1,392,024	$ 9,133	$ (466,125)	789,009	1,118,375	(60,494)	1,389,898	2,126
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	(15,329,817)		(15,329,817)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	$ 394,096				392,334		392,334	1,762
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(15,212)					(15,212)	(15,212)
Non-cash stock-based compensation	16,447			16,447			16,447
Issuance of restricted shares, net (in shares)		464,970
Issuance of restricted shares, net	0	$ 46		(46)			0
Other stock issuances, net of shares withheld for taxes (in shares)		117,451
Other stock issuances, net of shares withheld for taxes	4,355	$ 12		4,343			4,355
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost (in shares)			(15,100)
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost	(602)		$ (602)				(602)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	$ 583						0	583
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	91,909,430	91,909,430
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 1,791,691	$ 9,191	$ (466,727)	$ 809,753	$ 1,510,709	$ (75,706)	$ 1,787,220	$ 4,471
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	(15,344,917)		(15,344,917)