Debt instrument amount redeemed.

No definition available.

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt instrument discount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt instrument refinancing fees and expenses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Deferred financing fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest payable dates.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Percentage of face value price for issuance of senior notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sbac_PercentageOfFaceValuePriceForIssuanceOfSeniorNotes
Namespace Prefix:	sbac_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

Premium paid on redemption of debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Premium payment on senior secured notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Redemption of long term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to amortize debt discount and premium associated with the related debt instruments. Excludes amortization of financing costs. Alternate captions include noncash interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

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- Definition

Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to issue debt and obtain financing associated with the related debt instruments. Alternate captions include noncash interest expense.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Paragraph 28

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-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

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-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

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-Section 04

-Paragraph 8

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- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

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-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

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+ Details

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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

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-Topic 210

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

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-Article 5

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))

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- Details

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- Definition

The cash inflow from additional borrowings, net of cash paid to third parties in connection with debt origination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of uncollateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Article 5

-Subsection 19, 20, 22

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Debt - Additional Information 6 (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
Debt - Additional Information 6 (Detail) (USD $)	Aug. 29, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 24, 2009	Aug. 29, 2012 8.0% Senior Notes due 2016 [Member]	Apr. 13, 2012 8.0% Senior Notes due 2016 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 8.0% Senior Notes due 2016 [Member]	Apr. 13, 2012 8.25% Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 8.25% Senior Notes [Member]	Apr. 13, 2012 Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Senior Notes [Member]	Jul. 24, 2009 Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Sixteen [Member]	Jul. 24, 2009 Senior Notes Due Two Thousand Nineteen [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 8.0% Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 8.25% Senior Notes [Member]	Aug. 29, 2012 8.0% Senior Notes [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Unsecured senior notes														$ 750,000,000	$ 375,000,000	$ 375,000,000
Debt instrument, maturity date															Aug. 15, 2016	Aug. 15, 2019
Equity component related to repurchases, convertible, effective interest rate										8.00%		8.25%					8.00%	8.25%	8.00%
Percentage of face value price for issuance of senior notes															99.33%	99.152%
Interest payable dates															February 15 and August 15	February 15 and August 15
Deferred financing fees							7,700,000											5,400,000
Net proceeds of offering after deducting discounts														727,800,000
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount redeemed									131,300,000		131,300,000
Premium on redemption													21,300,000
Debt discount													1,500,000
Deferred financing fees													4,300,000
Debt instrument, aggregate principal amount redeemed																			243,800,000
Premium on redemption	14,600,000
Debt discount expensed								1,000,000
Deferred financing fees		3,981,000	3,199,000	11,508,000	9,293,000			3,400,000
Carrying value of senior note																		242,300,000
Debt instrument, Principal balance		$ 5,691,697,000		$ 5,691,697,000		$ 5,440,073,000												$ 243,800,000