Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 5,134,703	$ 4,208,330	$ 4,611,803
Costs of revenue, excluding depreciation and amortization	4,442,125	3,721,303	3,977,963
Depreciation and amortization	164,915	169,662	154,452
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment	0	78,625	0
General and administrative expenses	261,433	265,910	238,305
Interest expense, net	50,734	48,055	50,769
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,528)	7,978	269
Other income, net	(6,795)	(15,457)	(8,385)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	225,819	(67,746)	198,430
Provision for income taxes	(91,784)	(11,957)	(76,429)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	134,035	(79,703)	122,001
Discontinued operations:
Net loss from discontinued operations	0	0	(6,452)
Net income (loss)	134,035	(79,703)	115,549
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	2,772	(593)	(374)
Net income (loss) attributable to MasTec, Inc.	$ 131,263	$ (79,110)	$ 115,923
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.63	$ (0.98)	$ 1.53
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.08)
Total basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 1.63	$ (0.98)	$ 1.45
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	80,372	80,489	79,953
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.61	$ (0.98)	$ 1.42
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.07)
Total diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 1.61	$ (0.98)	$ 1.35
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	81,394	80,489	86,196