Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 513,659	$ 507,547	$ 500,147	$ 493,292	$ 483,849	$ 467,221	$ 456,322	$ 458,303	$ 2,014,645	$ 1,865,695	$ 1,727,674
Operating income	153,920	153,847	136,452	139,269	150,321	138,006	125,870	129,969	583,488	544,166	458,501
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization	(179,487)	(174,987)	(171,564)	(171,040)	(169,454)	(167,703)	(169,558)	(165,398)	(697,078)	(672,113)	(643,100)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net									(235)	(14,087)	(1,961)
Net income attributable to SBA Communications Corporation	$ 67,350	$ 21,679	$ 31,973	$ 25,989	$ 57,152	$ 16,144	$ (57,392)	$ 31,547	$ 146,991	$ 47,451	$ 103,654
Net income per common share - basic	$ 0.60	$ 0.19	$ 0.28	$ 0.23	$ 0.50	$ 0.14	$ (0.50)	$ 0.27	$ 1.30	$ 0.41	$ 0.86
Net income per common share - diluted	$ 0.59	$ 0.19	$ 0.28	$ 0.23	$ 0.50	$ 0.14	$ (0.50)	$ 0.27	$ 1.28	$ 0.41	$ 0.86