Earnings Per Share (Weighted-Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding used in Calculation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation	$ 21,679	$ 31,973	$ 25,989	$ 16,144	$ (57,391)	$ 31,545	$ 79,640	$ (9,702)
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	113,037			114,597			112,985	115,378
Dilutive impact of stock options and restricted shares	2,147			1,517			1,839
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	115,184			116,114			114,824	115,378
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to SBA Communications Corporation:
Basic	$ 0.19			$ 0.14			$ 0.70	$ (0.08)
Diluted	$ 0.19			$ 0.14			$ 0.69	$ (0.08)