Debt instrument repayment date.

No definition available.

Name:	sbac_DebtInstrumentRepaymentDate
Namespace Prefix:	sbac_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to issue debt and obtain financing associated with the related debt instruments. Alternate captions include noncash interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph 8

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_FivePointOneZeroOnePercentSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesSeriesTwoThousandTenHyphenTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_TwoPointNineThreeThreePercentSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesSeriesTwoThousandTwelveHyphenOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_TwoThousandThirteenSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_TwoPointTwoFourPercentSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesSeriesTwoThousandThirteenHyphenOneCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_ThreePointFiveNineEightPercentSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesSeriesTwoThousandThirteenHyphenOneDMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_ThreePointSevenTwoTwoPercentSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesSeriesTwoThousandThirteenHyphenTwoCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_TwoThousandFourteenSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_TwoPointEightNineEightPercentSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesSeriesTwoThousandFourteenHyphenOneCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=sbac_ThreePointEightSixNinePercentSecuredTowerRevenueSecuritiesSeriesTwoThousandFourteenHyphenTwoCMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt (Secured Tower Revenue Securities) (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)					3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 15, 2014	Apr. 18, 2013	Aug. 09, 2012	Apr. 16, 2010	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees					$ 4,626,000	$ 4,278,000	$ 9,170,000	$ 8,516,000
Aggregate debt					$ 8,256,400,000		$ 8,256,400,000		$ 7,860,799,000
5.101% 2010-2 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 550,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage				5.101%
Repayment date of debt instrument							Apr. 17, 2017
Debt instrument, maturity date							Apr. 15, 2042
Deferred financing fees				$ 8,100,000
2.933% 2012-1 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount			$ 610,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage			2.933%
Repayment date of debt instrument							Dec. 15, 2017
Debt instrument, maturity date							Dec. 15, 2042
Deferred financing fees			$ 14,900,000
2013 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees		$ 25,500,000
Aggregate debt		$ 1,330,000,000
Debt instrument, weighted average interest rate		3.218%
Weighted average life of debt instrument through the anticipated repayment date		7 years 2 months 12 days
2.240% 2013-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 425,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		2.24%
Repayment date of debt instrument							Apr. 17, 2018
Debt instrument, maturity date							Apr. 17, 2043
3.598% 2013-1D Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 330,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.598%
Repayment date of debt instrument							Apr. 17, 2018
Debt instrument, maturity date							Apr. 17, 2043
3.722% 2013-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount		$ 575,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.722%
Repayment date of debt instrument							Apr. 17, 2023
Debt instrument, maturity date							Apr. 17, 2048
2014 Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing fees	$ 22,500,000
Aggregate debt	$ 1,540,000,000
Debt instrument, weighted average interest rate	3.289%
Weighted average life of debt instrument through the anticipated repayment date	7 years
2.898% 2014-1C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 920,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	2.898%
Repayment date of debt instrument							Oct. 15, 2019
Debt instrument, maturity date							Oct. 17, 2044
3.869% 2014-2C Tower Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 620,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage	3.869%
Repayment date of debt instrument							Oct. 15, 2024
Debt instrument, maturity date							Oct. 15, 2049