Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Deficit - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member] Class A Common Stock [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Class A Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member]	Total
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 1,124		$ 2,270,326			$ (5,136,368)		$ (511,905)			$ (3,376,823)
BALANCE, Shares at Dec. 31, 2018		112,433
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation							57,962					57,962
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements		$ 11		87,910								87,921
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares		1,110
Non-cash stock compensation				48,469								48,469
Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions				1,680								1,680
Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions, Shares		10
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps									(51,593)			(51,593)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		$ (4)					(94,568)					(94,572)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares		(463)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation									8,578			8,578
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 1,131	$ 1,131	$ 2,408,385	2,408,385	$ (20,968)	$ (5,193,942)	(5,193,942)	$ (554,920)	(554,920)	$ (20,968)	$ (3,339,346)	(3,339,346)
BALANCE, Shares at Jun. 30, 2019	113,090	113,090
BALANCE at Mar. 31, 2019		$ 1,132		2,359,195			(5,131,347)		(531,761)			(3,302,781)
BALANCE, Shares at Mar. 31, 2019		113,205
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation							31,973					31,973
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements		$ 3		24,443								24,446
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares		348
Non-cash stock compensation				24,747								24,747
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps									(36,281)			(36,281)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		$ (4)					(94,568)					(94,572)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares		(463)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation									13,122			13,122
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 1,131	$ 1,131	$ 2,408,385	2,408,385	$ (20,968)	$ (5,193,942)	(5,193,942)	$ (554,920)	(554,920)	$ (20,968)	$ (3,339,346)	(3,339,346)
BALANCE, Shares at Jun. 30, 2019	113,090	113,090
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 1,118		2,461,335			(5,560,695)		(568,765)			$ (3,667,007)
BALANCE, Shares at Dec. 31, 2019		111,775										111,775
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation							(104,247)					$ (104,247)
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements		$ 9		37,307								37,316
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares		980
Non-cash stock compensation				35,651								35,651
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps									(115,923)			(115,923)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		$ (8)					(203,322)					(203,330)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares		(837)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation									(183,189)			(183,189)
Dividends on common stock							(104,393)					(104,393)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests				130								130
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2020		$ 1,119		2,534,423			(5,972,657)		(867,877)			$ (4,304,992)
BALANCE, Shares at Jun. 30, 2020		111,918										111,918
BALANCE at Mar. 31, 2020		$ 1,116		2,471,886			(5,943,386)		(846,847)			$ (4,317,231)
BALANCE, Shares at Mar. 31, 2020		111,559
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation							22,813					22,813
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements		$ 3		42,932								42,935
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares		359
Non-cash stock compensation				18,991								18,991
Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps									(12,684)			(12,684)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation									(8,346)			(8,346)
Dividends on common stock							(52,084)					(52,084)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests				614								614
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2020		$ 1,119		$ 2,534,423			$ (5,972,657)		$ (867,877)			$ (4,304,992)
BALANCE, Shares at Jun. 30, 2020		111,918										111,918