Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic
Net income from continuing operations	$ 19,317		$ 11,695
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(947)		2,477
Net income attributable to MasTec, Inc.	18,370		14,172
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic
Weighted average shares outstanding	76,608		80,615
Earnings (Loss) Per Share, Basic
Basic earnings per share, continuing operations	$ 0.25		$ 0.15
Basic (loss) earnings per share, discontinued operations	$ (0.01)		$ 0.03
Total basic earnings per share	$ 0.24	[1]	$ 0.18	[1]
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted
Net income from continuing operations	19,317		11,695
Diluted net income from continuing operations	19,394		11,772
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations	(947)		2,477
Diluted net income attributable to MasTec	18,447		14,249
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted
Weighted average shares outstanding	76,608		80,615
Dilutive common stock equivalents	785		813
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	84,094		83,901
Earnings (Loss) Per Share, Diluted
Diluted earnings per share, continuing operations	$ 0.23		$ 0.14
Diluted (loss) earnings per share, discontinued operations	$ (0.01)		$ 0.03
Total diluted earnings per share	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.17	[1]
Convertible Debt [Member] | Original 4.0% Notes [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted
Interest expense on convertible debt, net of tax	58		58
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted
Dilutive shares	612		612
Convertible Debt [Member] | Original 4.25% Notes [Member]
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted
Interest expense on convertible debt, net of tax	$ 19		$ 19
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted
Dilutive shares	194		194
Convertible Debt [Member] | New 4.0% Notes [Member]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted
Dilutive premium shares	3,010		809
Convertible Debt [Member] | New 4.25% Notes [Member]
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted
Dilutive premium shares	2,885		858

[1] Earnings per share tables may contain summation differences due to rounding.