Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 6,718,726	$ 6,424,965	$ 6,333,527
Cost of sales	5,774,247	5,517,719	5,511,881
Gross profit	944,479	907,246	821,646
Selling, general and administrative expenses	656,573	626,478	580,649
Restructuring expenses	824	1,168	647
Impairment loss on identifiable intangible assets	0	1,471	0
Gain on sale of building	0	11,749	0
Operating income	287,082	289,878	240,350
Interest expense	(8,932)	(9,075)	(8,769)
Interest income	673	842	1,128
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	278,823	281,645	232,709
Income tax provision	106,256	103,528	82,286
Income from continuing operations	172,567	178,117	150,423
Loss from discontinued operation, net of income taxes	(60)	(4,690)	(23,069)
Net income including noncontrolling interests	172,507	173,427	127,354
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(221)	(4,763)	(3,562)
Net income attributable to EMCOR Group, Inc. (in US dollars)	$ 172,286	$ 168,664	$ 123,792
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations attributable to EMCOR Group, Inc. common stockholders (in US dollars per share)	$ 2.74	$ 2.61	$ 2.19
From discontinued operation (in US dollars per share)	0.00	(0.07)	(0.34)
Net income attributable to EMCOR Group, Inc. common stockholders (in US dollars per share)	2.74	2.54	1.85
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations attributable to EMCOR Group, Inc. common stockholders (in US dollars per share)	2.72	2.59	2.16
From discontinued operation (in US dollars per share)	0.00	(0.07)	(0.34)
Net income attributable to EMCOR Group, Inc. common stockholders (in US dollars per share)	2.72	2.52	1.82
Dividends declared per common share (in US dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.32	$ 0.18