Consolidated Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 733,960	$ 631,876
Freight and delivery revenues	54,774	59,471
Total revenues	788,734	691,347
Cost of sales	589,326	557,615
Freight and delivery costs	54,774	59,471
Total cost of revenues	644,100	617,086
Gross Profit	144,634	74,261
Selling, general & administrative expenses	59,861	49,450
Acquisition-related expenses, net	425	1,604
Other operating expenses and (income), net	579	(2,364)
Earnings from Operations	83,769	25,571
Interest expense	20,034	19,331
Other nonoperating (income) and expenses, net	(1,030)	893
Earnings before taxes on income	64,765	5,347
Taxes on income	19,710	(812)
Consolidated net earnings	45,055	6,159
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	61	33
Net Earnings Attributable to Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.	44,994	6,126
Consolidated Comprehensive Earnings: (See Note 1)
Earnings attributable to Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.	46,783	5,562
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	92	35
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 46,875	$ 5,597
Net Earnings Attributable to Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. per common share
Basic attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.70	$ 0.07
Diluted attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.69	$ 0.07
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic	64,158	67,411
Diluted	64,350	67,676
Cash Dividends Per Common Share	$ 0.40	$ 0.40