Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Comprehensive Income [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Accumulated (Deficit) Surplus [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Total MasTec Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Non-Controlling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 57,443	$ 7,545		$ 622,745	$ (173,788)	$ (13,412)	$ 443,090		$ 443,090
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2008		75,454,565
Net income					70,748				70,748
Comprehensive Income	70,748
Total MasTec Shareholders' Equity							70,748		70,748
Non-Controlling Interests
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(134)					(134)	(134)		(134)
Unrealized gains, net of tax	3,641					3,641	3,641		3,641
Reclassification adjustment for impairment loss included in earnings, net of tax	3,781					3,781	3,781		3,781
Non cash stock compensation				3,065			3,065		3,065
Stock options exercised, value		38		2,955			2,993		3,971
Stock options exercised, shares		381,814
Other stock issuances, value		13		965			978
Other stock issuances, shares		117,625
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	78,036	7,596		629,730	(103,040)	(6,124)	528,162		528,162
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		75,954,004
Net income					90,528				90,387
Comprehensive Income	90,528
Total MasTec Shareholders' Equity							90,528		90,528
Non-Controlling Interests								(141)	(141)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	75					75	75		75
Unrealized gains, net of tax	(1,399)					(1,399)	(1,399)		(1,399)
Reclassification adjustment for impairment loss included in earnings, net of tax	714					714	714		714
Reclassification adjustment for unrealized loss on sale (redemption) of securities, net of tax	578					578	578		578
Acquisition of non-controlling interest								222	222
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition, value		188		26,857			27,045		27,045
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition, shares		1,875,000
Non cash stock compensation				3,872			3,872		3,444
Stock options exercised, value		23		2,601			2,624		3,934
Stock options exercised, shares		231,599							231,599
Other stock issuances, value		15		867			882
Other stock issuances, shares		154,586
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	90,496	7,822		663,927	(12,512)	(6,156)	653,081	81	653,162
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		78,215,189							78,215,189
Net income					106,001				105,972
Comprehensive Income	106,001
Total MasTec Shareholders' Equity							106,001		106,001
Non-Controlling Interests								(29)	(29)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(1,630)					(1,630)	(1,630)		(1,630)
Unrealized gains, net of tax	(445)					(445)	(445)		(445)
Reclassification adjustment for unrealized loss on sale (redemption) of securities, net of tax	285					285	285		285
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition, value		513		93,700			94,213		94,213
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition, shares		5,129,642
Fair value, senior convertible notes conversion feature, net of tax				10,739			10,739		10,739
Non cash stock compensation				3,573			3,573		3,573
Excess tax benefits from stock based compensation				7,766			7,766		7,766
Stock options exercised, value		113		11,609			11,722		11,722
Stock options exercised, shares		1,132,396							1,132,396
Other stock issuances, value		68		782			850		850
Other stock issuances, shares		685,300
Treasury stock acquired, value			(75,000)				(75,000)		(75,000)
Treasury stock acquired, shares		4,593,663	(4,593,663)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 104,211	$ 8,516	$ (75,000)	$ 792,096	$ 93,489	$ (7,946)	$ 811,155	$ 52	$ 811,207
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		85,162,527	(4,593,663)						85,162,527