Earnings Per Share (Schedule Of Earnings Per Share Reconciliation Details) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Net income attributable to MasTec, basic									$ 106,001	$ 90,528	$ 70,748
Weighted average shares outstanding									82,182,000	76,132,000	75,701,000
Basic earnings per share attributable to MasTec	$ 0.10	$ 0.38	$ 0.54	$ 0.27	$ 0.50	$ 0.39	$ 0.19	$ 0.10	$ 1.29	$ 1.19	$ 0.93
Net income attributable to MasTec, dilutive									106,486	95,722	73,427
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding									82,182,000	76,132,000	75,701,000
Dilutive common stock equivalents									1,129,000	1,022,000	1,025,000
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding									86,718,000	90,913,000	81,763,000
Diluted earnings per share attributable to MasTec	$ 0.10	$ 0.36	$ 0.51	$ 0.26	$ 0.44	$ 0.35	$ 0.18	$ 0.10	$ 1.23	$ 1.05	$ 0.90
New 4.0% Notes [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive premium shares									1,067,000
New 4.25% Notes [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Dilutive premium shares									1,095,000
Original 4.0% Notes [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest on convertible debt, net of tax									331	2,700	2,260
Dilutive shares									862,000	7,297,000	4,134,000
Original 4.25% Notes [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest on convertible debt, net of tax									$ 154	$ 2,494	$ 419
Dilutive shares									383,000	6,462,000	903,000
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive share awards									9,479	1,031,894	2,022,890