Condensed Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,848	$ 26,382
Accounts receivable, net of allowance	1,225,122	877,214
Inventories	63,255	83,939
Prepaid expenses and other current assets, including discontinued operations (See Note 4)	41,091	62,106
Total current assets	1,332,316	1,049,641
Property and equipment, net	504,313	350,192
Goodwill	891,266	824,953
Other intangible assets, net	172,833	137,020
Other long-term assets, including discontinued operations (See Note 4)	53,610	54,160
Total assets	2,954,338	2,415,966
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt	53,343	52,596
Accounts payable	475,742	400,833
Accrued salaries and wages	81,587	31,522
Other accrued expenses	64,645	45,814
Billings in excess of costs and earnings	109,655	123,435
Other current liabilities, including discontinued operations (See Note 4)	39,436	40,377
Total current liabilities	882,229	713,793
Long-term debt	779,920	546,323
Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net	151,044	119,388
Other liabilities	42,556	38,875
Total liabilities	1,975,251	1,554,091
Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 17)
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; authorized shares - 5,000,000; issued and outstanding shares - none	0	0
Common stock, $0.10 par value; authorized shares - 145,000,000; issued shares - 86,686,385 and 85,915,552 as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	8,669	8,592
Capital surplus	819,073	803,166
Retained earnings	300,366	200,915
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,898)	(5,501)
Treasury stock, at cost; 9,467,286 shares as of both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012	(150,000)	(150,000)
Total MasTec, Inc. shareholders' equity	974,212	857,172
Non-controlling interests	4,875	4,703
Total shareholders' equity	979,087	861,875
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,954,338	2,415,966
Contributed Shares [Member] | Common Stock Outstanding [Member]
Shareholders' equity:
Contributed shares (See Note 12)	6,002	0
Earn-out Arrangements [Member]
Current liabilities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, current	57,821	19,216
Acquisition-related contingent consideration, net of current portion	$ 119,502	$ 135,712