Business Segments (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment item $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| segment	3
Income from construction operations	$ 40,122	$ 20,084
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.31	$ 0.10
Depreciation and amortization	$ 14,496	$ 10,594
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	778	1,424
Depreciation and amortization	5,626	5,223
Building [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	12,450	(2,279)
Depreciation and amortization	600	700
Civil [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	33,665	30,593
Depreciation and amortization	8,100	5,500
Specialty Contractors [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	9,413	10,524
Depreciation and amortization	1,300	1,400
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	(15,406)	(18,754)
Depreciation and amortization	2,900	$ 2,500
Five Star Electric [Member] \| Specialty Contractors [Member] \| Scenario Favorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	$ 3,000
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.04
Five Star Electric Subcontract [Member] \| Specialty Contractors [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of projects \| item	2
Five Star Electric Subcontract [Member] \| Specialty Contractors [Member] \| Scenario Unfavorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	$ 13,800
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.17
Five Star Electric Subcontract [Member] \| Specialty Contractors [Member] \| Scenario Favorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	$ 14,000
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.17

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- Definition

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.21)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7655603&loc=d3e1252-109256

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 18
-Article 7

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 03
-Paragraph 20
-Article 5

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Paragraph 21
-Article 9

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Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

+ References

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

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