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 [Member]	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Total
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 1,164	$ 2,167,470		$ (4,388,288)	$ (379,460)		$ (2,599,114)
BALANCE, Shares at Dec. 31, 2017	116,446
Net income attributable to SBA Communications Corporation				47,451			47,451
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 10	59,716					59,726
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	962
Non-cash stock compensation		43,140					43,140
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (50)			(795,531)			(795,581)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(4,975)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation					(132,445)		(132,445)
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 attributable to SBA Communications Corporation				146,991			146,991
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 13	116,189					116,202
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	1,347
Non-cash stock compensation		74,270					74,270
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					(42,131)		(42,131)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (19)			(466,963)			(466,982)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(2,015)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation					(14,729)		(14,729)
Dividends and dividend equivalents on common stock				(83,387)			(83,387)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests		(1,130)					(1,130)
BALANCE (Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2019			$ (20,968)			$ (20,968)
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 attributable to SBA Communications Corporation				24,104			$ 24,104
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements	$ 11	53,683					53,694
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares	1,113
Non-cash stock compensation		70,363					70,363
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps					(98,771)		(98,771)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	$ (31)			(859,304)			(859,335)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares	(3,069)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation					(140,046)		(140,046)
Dividends and dividend equivalents on common stock				(208,133)			(208,133)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests		749					749
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 1,098	$ 2,586,130		$ (6,604,028)	$ (807,582)		$ (4,824,382)
BALANCE, Shares at Dec. 31, 2020	109,819						109,819