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 [Member] Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjusted Balance [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [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 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
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
Net income attributable to SBA Communications Corporation							237,624					$ 237,624
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements		$ 10		14,744								14,754
Common stock issued in connection with equity awards and stock purchase plans, offset by the impact of net share settlements, Shares		1,017
Non-cash stock compensation				85,779								85,779
Adjustments related to interest rate swaps									93,087			93,087
Repurchase and retirement of common stock		$ (19)					(582,559)					(582,578)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, Shares		(1,880)
Foreign currency translation adjustments attributable to SBA Communications Corporation									(47,814)			(47,814)
Dividends and dividend equivalents on common stock							(254,568)					(254,568)
Adjustment to fair value related to noncontrolling interests				(2,806)								(2,806)
Contribution from joint venture partner for noncontrolling interest				(2,500)								(2,500)
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2021		$ 1,089		$ 2,681,347			$ (7,203,531)		$ (762,309)			$ (5,283,404)
BALANCE, Shares at Dec. 31, 2021		108,956										108,956