Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness (Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 146,103	$ 75,452	$ 135,583	$ 119,923
Restricted cash	50,504	45,853
Accounts receivable	1,743,300	1,473,615
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	831,826	905,175
Other current assets	66,023	108,844
Total current assets	2,837,756	2,608,939
Property and equipment, net	477,626	523,525
Other assets:
Goodwill	585,006	585,006	585,000
Intangible assets, net	92,997	96,540
Other assets	45,235	47,290
TOTAL ASSETS	4,038,620	3,861,300
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt	85,890	88,917
Accounts payable	994,016	937,464
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	331,112	288,311
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	107,925	134,127
Total current liabilities	1,518,943	1,448,819
Long-term debt, less current maturities	673,629	728,767
Deferred income taxes	131,007	122,822
Other long-term liabilities	162,018	140,665
Contingencies and commitments
Stockholders' Equity	1,553,023	1,420,227	1,365,505	1,247,535
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	4,038,620	3,861,300
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	(231,519)	(146,745)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	(67,385)	(77,583)
Other current assets	(56,817)	(11,419)
Total current assets	(355,721)	(235,747)
Intercompany notes and receivables	(242,382)	(148,637)
Other assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	(2,223,971)	(1,962,983)
Other assets	(8,401)	(24,147)
TOTAL ASSETS	(2,830,475)	(2,371,514)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt	(60,000)	(60,000)
Accounts payable	(226,249)	(167,705)
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	(20,571)	(5,711)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(48,901)	(20,755)
Total current liabilities	(355,721)	(254,171)
Long-term debt, less current maturities	(5,994)	(5,723)
Deferred income taxes	(2,407)
Intercompany notes and advances payable	(242,382)	(148,637)
Contingencies and commitments
Stockholders' Equity	(2,223,971)	(1,962,983)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	(2,830,475)	(2,371,514)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	80,829	47,196	75,087	88,995
Restricted cash	2,016	3,369
Accounts receivable	426,176	358,437
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	140,901	114,580
Other current assets	76,453	60,119
Total current assets	726,375	583,701
Property and equipment, net	74,739	105,306
Other assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	2,223,971	1,962,983
Other assets	42,324	60,978
TOTAL ASSETS	3,067,409	2,712,968
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt	122,166	107,283
Accounts payable	280,342	211,679
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	102,373	89,303
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	60,227	6,146
Total current liabilities	565,108	414,411
Long-term debt, less current maturities	614,608	653,669
Deferred income taxes	16,475
Other long-term liabilities	111,108	106,588
Intercompany notes and advances payable	207,087	118,073
Contingencies and commitments
Stockholders' Equity	1,553,023	1,420,227
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	3,067,409	2,712,968
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	65,079	26,892	36,764	18,031
Restricted cash	2,211	3,283
Accounts receivable	1,441,263	1,179,919
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	758,158	868,026
Other current assets	38,889	48,482
Total current assets	2,305,600	2,126,602
Property and equipment, net	399,091	414,143
Intercompany notes and receivables	242,382	148,637
Other assets:
Goodwill	585,006	585,006
Intangible assets, net	92,997	96,540
Other assets	8,905	7,067
TOTAL ASSETS	3,633,981	3,377,995
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt	23,724	41,634
Accounts payable	937,428	890,268
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	229,746	203,003
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	76,002	123,497
Total current liabilities	1,266,900	1,258,402
Long-term debt, less current maturities	65,015	80,821
Deferred income taxes	116,939	122,822
Other long-term liabilities	2,415	3,278
Contingencies and commitments
Stockholders' Equity	2,182,712	1,912,672
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	3,633,981	3,377,995
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	195	1,364	$ 23,732	$ 12,897
Restricted cash	46,277	39,201
Accounts receivable	107,380	82,004
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	152	152
Other current assets	7,498	11,662
Total current assets	161,502	134,383
Property and equipment, net	3,796	4,076
Other assets:
Other assets	2,407	3,392
TOTAL ASSETS	167,705	141,851
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable	2,495	3,222
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	19,564	1,716
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	20,597	25,239
Total current liabilities	42,656	30,177
Other long-term liabilities	48,495	30,799
Intercompany notes and advances payable	35,295	30,564
Contingencies and commitments
Stockholders' Equity	41,259	50,311
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 167,705	$ 141,851
2010 Notes [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.625%
Maturity date	Nov. 01, 2018