Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Schedule of the Impact for the Adoption of ASU 2014-09) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	$ 1,272,932		$ 1,272,932			$ 1,265,717
Retainage receivable	490,751		490,751		$ 535,939	535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	1,044,233		1,044,233		932,758	932,758
Other current assets	141,472		141,472			89,316
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	625,436		625,436			699,971
Retainage payable	236,545		236,545		261,820	261,820
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	574,392		574,392		496,654	456,869
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	134,264		134,264			132,438
Deferred income taxes	106,284		106,284			108,504
EQUITY
Retained earnings	631,004		631,004			622,007
Noncontrolling interests	(17,618)		(17,618)			(8,495)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,120,085	$ 1,247,274	2,148,241	$ 2,364,635
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,001,445)	(1,144,436)	(1,962,533)	(2,159,078)
GROSS PROFIT	118,640	102,838	185,708	205,557
General and administrative expenses	(63,825)	(68,793)	(131,818)	(134,495)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	54,815	34,045	53,890	71,062
Other income, net	1,050	40,990	1,830	41,406
Interest expense	(15,998)	(22,519)	(31,063)	(38,083)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	39,867	52,516	24,657	74,385
Provision for income taxes	(11,971)	(19,883)	(7,703)	(27,988)
NET INCOME	27,896	32,633	16,954	46,397
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,013	2,537	4,195	2,537
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	24,883	$ 30,096	12,759	$ 43,860
Accounting Standards Update 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	1,272,932		1,272,932		1,265,717
Retainage receivable	490,751		490,751		535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	1,044,233		1,044,233
Other current assets	141,472		141,472		122,089
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	625,436		625,436		699,971
Retainage payable	236,545		236,545		261,820
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	574,392		574,392		496,654
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	134,264		134,264
Deferred income taxes	106,284		106,284		106,967
EQUITY
Retained earnings	631,004		631,004		618,245
Noncontrolling interests	(17,618)		(17,618)		(10,209)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,120,085		2,148,241
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,001,445)		(1,962,533)
GROSS PROFIT	118,640		185,708
General and administrative expenses	(63,825)		(131,818)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	54,815		53,890
Other income, net	1,050		1,830
Interest expense	(15,998)		(31,063)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	39,867		24,657
Provision for income taxes	(11,971)		(7,703)
NET INCOME	27,896		16,954
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,013		4,195
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	24,883		12,759
Without Adoption Of ASU 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	1,762,442		1,762,442			1,801,656
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	1,044,395		1,044,395
Other current assets	101,119		101,119			89,316
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	861,981		861,981			961,791
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	524,576		524,576			456,869
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	134,896		134,896
Deferred income taxes	107,540		107,540			108,504
EQUITY
Retained earnings	635,626		635,626			622,007
Noncontrolling interests	(15,744)		(15,744)			$ (8,495)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,126,925		2,157,193
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,007,258)		(1,970,113)
GROSS PROFIT	119,667		187,080
General and administrative expenses	(63,825)		(131,818)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	55,842		55,262
Other income, net	1,050		1,830
Interest expense	(15,998)		(31,063)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	40,894		26,029
Provision for income taxes	(12,211)		(8,055)
NET INCOME	28,683		17,974
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	3,213		4,355
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	25,470		13,619
Adjustments Due To ASU 606 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	(489,510)		(489,510)		(535,939)
Retainage receivable	490,751		490,751		535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	(162)		(162)
Other current assets	40,353		40,353		32,773
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	(236,545)		(236,545)		(261,820)
Retainage payable	236,545		236,545		261,820
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	49,816		49,816		39,785
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(632)		(632)
Deferred income taxes	(1,256)		(1,256)		(1,537)
EQUITY
Retained earnings	(4,622)		(4,622)		(3,762)
Noncontrolling interests	(1,874)		(1,874)		$ (1,714)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	(6,840)		(8,952)
COST OF OPERATIONS	5,813		7,580
GROSS PROFIT	(1,027)		(1,372)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	(1,027)		(1,372)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(1,027)		(1,372)
Provision for income taxes	240		352
NET INCOME	(787)		(1,020)
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(200)		(160)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	$ (587)		$ (860)