Consolidated Statements Of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Class A Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
BALANCE, value at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 1,175	$ 2,085,915	$ (1,435,031)	$ (1,549)		$ 650,510
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2008	117,525
Net loss			(140,871)		(248)	(141,119)
Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation						(140,871)
Amortization of net deferred loss from settlement of derivative financial instruments				622		622
Write-off of net deferred loss from derivative instruments related to repurchase of debt				(3,350)		(3,350)
Foreign currency translation adjustments				1,474		1,474
Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions and earn-outs, shares	864
Common stock issued in connection with acquisitions and earn-outs, value	9	20,303				20,312
Purchase of non-wholly owned entity					1,222	1,222
Non-cash compensation		8,260				8,260
Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans, shares	689
Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans, value	7	7,038				7,045
Equity component related to 4.0% convertible debt issuance		168,933				168,933
Purchase of convertible note hedges		(160,100)				(160,100)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock warrants		98,491				98,491
Stock issued in connection with repurchases of the 0.375% convertible debt, shares	618
Stock issued in connection with repurchases of the 0.375% convertible debt, value	6	11,193				11,199
Equity component related to repurchases of the 0.375% convertible debt		(11,830)				(11,830)
Stock received related to the termination of a portion of the 0.375% convertible note hedge, value	(9)	9
Stock received related to the termination of a portion of the 0.375% convertible note hedge, shares	(874)
Stock issued related to the termination of a portion of the 0.375% convertible debt common stock warrants, value	3	(3)
Stock issued related to the termination of a portion of the 0.375% convertible debt common stock warrants, shares	328
Preferred return on capital contributions		59			(59)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, value	(20)		(51,700)			(51,720)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, shares	(2,068)
BALANCE, value at Dec. 31, 2009	1,171	2,228,268	(1,627,602)	(2,803)	915	599,949
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2009	117,082
Net loss			(194,674)		253	(194,421)
Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation						(194,674)
Amortization of net deferred loss from settlement of derivative financial instruments				632		632
Write-off of net deferred loss from derivative instruments related to repurchase of debt				3,645		3,645
Foreign currency translation adjustments				701		701
Non-cash compensation		10,560				10,560
Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans, shares	924
Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans, value	9	16,124				16,133
Proceeds from the settlement of convertible note hedges		8,497				8,497
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interests		(7,500)			(703)	(8,203)
Exchange of redeemable noncontrolling interests		(12,492)			(465)	(12,957)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, value	(32)		(107,394)			(107,426)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, shares	(3,174)
BALANCE, value at Dec. 31, 2010	1,148	2,243,457	(1,929,670)	2,175		317,110
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	114,832
Net loss						(126,892)
Net loss attributable to SBA Communications Corporation			(126,456)			(126,456)
Amortization of net deferred loss from settlement of derivative financial instruments
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(38)		(1,690)		(1,728)
Equity component related to repurchases of the convertible debt		(2,607)				(2,607)
Non-cash compensation		11,639				11,639
Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans, shares	761
Common stock issued in connection with stock purchase/option plans, value	8	15,793				15,801
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interests						(717)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, value	(59)		(225,013)			(225,072)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, shares	(5,918)
BALANCE, value at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,097	$ 2,268,244	$ (2,281,139)	$ 485		$ (11,313)
BALANCE, shares at Dec. 31, 2011	109,675