Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Contributed Shares [Member]	Capital Surplus [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Total MasTec, Inc. Shareholders’ Equity [Member]	Non-Controlling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		86,725,372
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,021,058	$ 8,672	$ (150,000)	$ 6,002	$ 822,836	$ 341,865	$ (13,286)	$ 1,016,089	$ 4,969
Beginning balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			(9,467,286)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	115,549					115,923		115,923	(374)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(20,718)						(20,718)	(20,718)
Non-cash stock-based compensation	15,950				15,950			15,950
Income tax effect from stock-based compensation	2,484				2,484			2,484
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		210,900
Exercise of stock options	2,246	$ 21			2,225			2,246
Issuance of restricted shares, net (in shares)		659,212
Issuance of restricted shares, net	0	$ 66			(66)			0
Other stock issuances, net (in shares)		19,471
Other stock issuances, net	(1,137)	$ 3			(1,140)			(1,137)
Issuance of treasury stock for convertible notes (in shares)			6,590,975
Issuance of treasury stock for convertible notes	104,427		$ 104,427					104,427
Conversion of convertible notes	(91,784)				(91,784)			(91,784)
Contributed shares, transfer to capital surplus	0			(6,002)	6,002			0
Other activity, net	0				181			181	(181)
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		87,614,955
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	1,148,075	$ 8,762	$ (45,573)	0	756,688	457,788	(34,004)	1,143,661	4,414
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			(2,876,311)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	(79,703)					(79,110)		(79,110)	(593)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(38,347)						(38,347)	(38,347)
Non-cash stock-based compensation	12,395				12,395			12,395
Income tax effect from stock-based compensation	(597)				(597)			(597)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		81,971
Exercise of stock options	544	$ 8			536			544
Issuance of restricted shares, net (in shares)		446,874
Issuance of restricted shares, net	0	$ 45			(45)			0
Other stock issuances, net (in shares)		53,674
Other stock issuances, net	1,024	$ 5			1,019			1,024
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost (in shares)			(5,217,693)
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost	$ (100,000)		$ (100,000)					(100,000)
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	88,197,474	88,197,474
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 943,391	$ 8,820	$ (145,573)	0	769,996	378,678	(72,351)	939,570	3,821
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	(8,094,004)		(8,094,004)
Consolidated Statements of Equity
Net income (loss)	$ 134,035					131,263		131,263	2,772
Other comprehensive income (loss)	6,537						6,537	6,537
Non-cash stock-based compensation	15,072				15,072			15,072
Income tax effect from stock-based compensation	(107)				(107)			(107)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		202,700
Exercise of stock options	2,053	$ 20			2,033			2,053
Issuance of restricted shares, net (in shares)		2,115,672
Issuance of restricted shares, net	0	$ 212			(212)			0
Other stock issuances, net (in shares)		118,925
Other stock issuances, net	2,143	$ 11			2,132			2,143
Other activity, net	$ 510							0	510
Ending balance, common shares outstanding (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	90,634,771	90,634,771
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 1,103,634	$ 9,063	$ (145,573)	$ 0	$ 788,914	$ 509,941	$ (65,814)	$ 1,096,531	$ 7,103
Ending balance, treasury shares (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	(8,094,004)		(8,094,004)