CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 263,735	$ 97,740	$ 737,506	$ 450,412
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Changes in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax benefit of $0, $9, $0 and $18, respectively	(432)	710	(367)	365
Reclassification of unrealized (gains) losses on cash flow hedges to net income, net of tax benefit of $0, $20, $0 and $66, respectively	(108)	158	(173)	2,771
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax (benefit) expense of ($1,495), ($12,863), $5,388 and ($25,275), respectively	(91,608)	(600,798)	(43,282)	(1,077,788)
Other comprehensive loss	(92,148)	(599,930)	(43,822)	(1,074,652)
Comprehensive income (loss)	171,587	(502,190)	693,684	(624,240)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12,454)	807	(5,844)	37,930
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to American Tower Corporation stockholders	$ 159,133	$ (501,383)	$ 687,840	$ (586,310)