Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Schedule of the Impact for the Adoption of ASU 2014-09) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Jan. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	$ 1,325,465		$ 1,325,465			$ 1,265,717
Retainage receivable	492,937		492,937		$ 535,939	535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	1,085,651		1,085,651		932,758	932,758
Other current assets	130,023		130,023			89,316
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	611,100		611,100			699,971
Retainage payable	213,430		213,430		261,820	261,820
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	648,287		648,287		496,654	456,869
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($46,164 and $0 related to VIEs)	162,102		162,102			132,438
Deferred income taxes	106,636		106,636			108,504
EQUITY
Retained earnings	652,276		652,276			622,007
Noncontrolling interests	(23,376)		(23,376)			(8,495)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,123,137	$ 1,199,505	3,271,378	$ 3,564,140
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,012,013)	(1,081,254)	(2,974,546)	(3,240,332)
GROSS PROFIT	111,124	118,251	296,832	323,808
General and administrative expenses	(63,818)	(69,179)	(195,636)	(203,674)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	47,306	49,072	101,196	120,134
Other income, net	1,909	967	3,739	42,373
Interest expense	(16,411)	(15,643)	(47,474)	(53,726)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	32,804	34,396	57,461	108,781
Provision for income taxes	(7,368)	(9,096)	(15,071)	(37,084)
NET INCOME	25,436	25,300	42,390	71,697
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	4,164	1,716	8,359	4,253
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	21,272	$ 23,584	34,031	$ 67,444
Accounting Standards Update 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	1,325,465		1,325,465		1,265,717
Retainage receivable	492,937		492,937		535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	1,085,651		1,085,651
Other current assets	130,023		130,023		122,089
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	611,100		611,100		699,971
Retainage payable	213,430		213,430		261,820
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	648,287		648,287		496,654
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($46,164 and $0 related to VIEs)	162,102		162,102
Deferred income taxes	106,636		106,636		106,967
EQUITY
Retained earnings	652,276		652,276		618,245
Noncontrolling interests	(23,376)		(23,376)		(10,209)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,123,137		3,271,378
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,012,013)		(2,974,546)
GROSS PROFIT	111,124		296,832
General and administrative expenses	(63,818)		(195,636)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	47,306		101,196
Other income, net	1,909		3,739
Interest expense	(16,411)		(47,474)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	32,804		57,461
Provision for income taxes	(7,368)		(15,071)
NET INCOME	25,436		42,390
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	4,164		8,359
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	21,272		34,031
Without Adoption Of ASU 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	1,816,399		1,816,399			1,801,656
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	1,089,452		1,089,452
Other current assets	89,875		89,875			89,316
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	824,530		824,530			961,791
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	601,913		601,913			456,869
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($46,164 and $0 related to VIEs)	162,727		162,727
Deferred income taxes	107,835		107,835			108,504
EQUITY
Retained earnings	656,742		656,742			622,007
Noncontrolling interests	(21,643)		(21,643)			$ (8,495)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,122,571		3,279,764
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,011,808)		(2,981,921)
GROSS PROFIT	110,763		297,843
General and administrative expenses	(63,818)		(195,636)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	46,945		102,207
Other income, net	1,909		3,739
Interest expense	(16,411)		(47,474)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	32,443		58,472
Provision for income taxes	(7,303)		(15,358)
NET INCOME	25,140		43,114
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	4,024		8,379
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	21,116		34,735
Adjustments Due To ASU 606 [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Accounts receivable	(490,934)		(490,934)		(535,939)
Retainage receivable	492,937		492,937		535,939
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	(3,801)		(3,801)
Other current assets	40,148		40,148		32,773
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable	(213,430)		(213,430)		(261,820)
Retainage payable	213,430		213,430		261,820
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	46,374		46,374		39,785
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities ($46,164 and $0 related to VIEs)	(625)		(625)
Deferred income taxes	(1,199)		(1,199)		(1,537)
EQUITY
Retained earnings	(4,466)		(4,466)		(3,762)
Noncontrolling interests	(1,733)		(1,733)		$ (1,714)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	566		(8,386)
COST OF OPERATIONS	(205)		7,375
GROSS PROFIT	361		(1,011)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	361		(1,011)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	361		(1,011)
Provision for income taxes	(65)		287
NET INCOME	296		(724)
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	140		(20)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO TUTOR PERINI CORPORATION	$ 156		$ (704)