Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Schedule of the Impact for the Adoption of ASU 2014-09) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	$ 1,236,818			$ 1,265,717
Retainage receivable	530,897		$ 535,939	535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	980,896		932,758	932,758
Other current assets	132,298			89,316
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	659,290			699,971
Retainage payable	246,033		261,820	261,820
Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings	508,616		496,654	456,869
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	118,334			132,438
Deferred income taxes	106,763			108,504
EQUITY
Retained earnings	606,199			622,007
Noncontrolling interests	(14,076)			(8,495)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,028,156	$ 1,117,361
COST OF OPERATIONS	(961,088)	(1,014,641)
GROSS PROFIT	67,068	102,720
General and administrative expenses	(67,993)	(65,703)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	(925)	37,017
Other income, net	780	417
Interest expense	(15,065)	(15,564)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(15,210)	21,870
Income tax benefit	4,268	(8,106)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(10,942)	13,764
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	1,182
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	(12,124)	$ 13,764
Accounting Standards Update 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	1,236,818		1,265,717
Retainage receivable	530,897		535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	980,896
Other current assets	132,298		122,089
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	659,290		699,971
Retainage payable	246,033		261,820
Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings	508,616		496,654
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	118,334
Deferred income taxes	106,763		106,967
EQUITY
Retained earnings	606,199		618,245
Noncontrolling interests	(14,076)		(10,209)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,028,156
COST OF OPERATIONS	(961,088)
GROSS PROFIT	67,068
General and administrative expenses	(67,993)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	(925)
Other income, net	780
Interest expense	(15,065)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(15,210)
Income tax benefit	4,268
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(10,942)
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	1,182
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	(12,124)
Without Adoption Of ASU 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	1,765,769			1,801,656
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	982,302
Other current assets	97,758			89,316
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	905,323			961,791
Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings	466,179			456,869
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	118,610
Deferred income taxes	108,135			108,504
EQUITY
Retained earnings	610,234			622,007
Noncontrolling interests	(12,402)			$ (8,495)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,030,268
COST OF OPERATIONS	(962,855)
GROSS PROFIT	67,413
General and administrative expenses	(67,993)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	(580)
Other income, net	780
Interest expense	(15,065)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(14,865)
Income tax benefit	4,156
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(10,709)
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	1,142
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	(11,851)
Adjustments Due To ASU 606 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	(528,951)		(535,939)
Retainage receivable	530,897		535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	(1,406)
Other current assets	34,540		32,773
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	(246,033)		(261,820)
Retainage payable	246,033		261,820
Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings	42,437		39,785
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(276)
Deferred income taxes	(1,372)		(1,537)
EQUITY
Retained earnings	(4,035)		(3,762)
Noncontrolling interests	(1,674)		$ (1,714)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	(2,112)
COST OF OPERATIONS	1,767
GROSS PROFIT	(345)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	(345)
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(345)
Income tax benefit	112
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(233)
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	40
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	$ (273)