Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Revenues:
Site leasing		$ 535,492	$ 486,765	$ 1,564,814	$ 1,461,523
Site development		53,813	36,175	148,882	85,708
Total revenues		589,305	522,940	1,713,696	1,547,231
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing		98,666	92,722	289,510	280,120
Cost of site development		41,357	28,797	116,172	68,417
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	[1]	51,000	48,152	156,546	146,856
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses		5,730	4,124	17,525	12,557
Asset impairment and decommission costs		9,860	8,506	18,560	29,103
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization		170,916	180,302	530,266	541,587
Total operating expenses		377,529	362,603	1,128,579	1,078,640
Operating income (loss)		211,776	160,337	585,117	468,591
Other income (expense):
Interest income		945	756	2,124	2,340
Interest expense		(89,199)	(89,791)	(269,839)	(281,329)
Non-cash interest expense		(11,820)	(8,323)	(35,436)	(13,066)
Amortization of deferred financing fees		(4,934)	(4,883)	(14,690)	(15,211)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net			(2,599)	(13,672)	(19,463)
Other expense, net		(69,804)	(42,262)	(49,390)	(300,144)
Total other expense, net		(174,812)	(147,102)	(380,903)	(626,873)
Income (loss) before income taxes		36,964	13,235	204,214	(158,282)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		10,834	9,441	(15,494)	76,143
Net income (loss)		47,798	22,676	188,720	(82,139)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			(108)		461
Net income (loss) attributable to SBA Communications Corporation		$ 47,798	$ 22,568	$ 188,720	$ (81,678)
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to SBA Communications Corporation:
Basic		$ 0.44	$ 0.20	$ 1.72	$ (0.73)
Diluted		$ 0.43	$ 0.20	$ 1.70	$ (0.73)
Weighted average number of common shares
Basic		109,577	111,783	109,487	111,809
Diluted		111,565	113,703	111,329	111,809

[1] Includes non-cash compensation of $16,589 and $16,606 for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $57,249 and $50,291 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.