Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Deficit - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member] Class A Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [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				79,641			79,641
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation							79,640
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 13	112,896					112,909
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	1,318
Non-cash stock compensation		61,467					61,467
Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions		1,680					1,680
Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions, Shares	10
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps					(62,404)		(62,404)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (11)			(267,523)			(267,534)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(1,157)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation					(46,469)		(46,469)
Dividends on common stock				(41,873)			(41,873)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,126	2,446,369	$ (20,968)	(5,387,091)	(620,778)	$ (20,968)	(3,560,374)
BALANCE, Shares at Sep. 30, 2019	112,604
BALANCE at Jun. 30, 2019	$ 1,131	2,408,385		(5,193,942)	(554,920)		(3,339,346)
BALANCE, Shares at Jun. 30, 2019	113,090
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation				21,679			21,679
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 2	24,986					24,988
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	208
Non-cash stock compensation		12,998					12,998
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps					(10,811)		(10,811)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (7)			(172,955)			(172,962)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(694)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation					(55,047)		(55,047)
Dividends on common stock				(41,873)			(41,873)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 1,126	2,446,369	$ (20,968)	(5,387,091)	(620,778)	$ (20,968)	(3,560,374)
BALANCE, Shares at Sep. 30, 2019	112,604
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				(81,678)			$ (81,678)
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 10	50,117					50,127
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	1,086
Non-cash stock compensation		53,038					53,038
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps					(114,366)		(114,366)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (14)			(378,974)			(378,988)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(1,418)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation					(190,481)		(190,481)
Dividends on common stock				(156,532)			(156,532)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests		(511)					(511)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 1,114	2,563,979		(6,177,879)	(873,612)		$ (4,486,398)
BALANCE, Shares at Sep. 30, 2020	111,443						111,443
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
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation				22,568			22,568
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 1	12,810					12,811
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	105
Non-cash stock compensation		17,387					17,387
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps					1,557		1,557
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (6)			(175,652)			(175,658)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(580)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation					(7,292)		(7,292)
Dividends on common stock				(52,138)			(52,138)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests		(641)					(641)
BALANCE at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 1,114	$ 2,563,979		$ (6,177,879)	$ (873,612)		$ (4,486,398)
BALANCE, Shares at Sep. 30, 2020	111,443						111,443