Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 1,349,516	$ 1,442,091	$ 1,276,427	$ 1,250,729	$ 1,177,725	$ 1,189,345	$ 1,125,275	$ 958,487	$ 5,318,763	$ 4,450,832	$ 4,454,662
Gross profit	132,404	124,915	117,754	111,080	(62,704)	115,063	100,943	88,470	486,153	241,772	454,453
Income from construction operations	74,400	83,021	57,696	47,227	(94,146)	47,943	(341,717)	22,913	262,344	(365,007)	191,876
Income before income taxes	53,212	49,360	40,435	31,272	(106,717)	32,312	(358,339)	6,910	174,279	(425,834)	132,613
Net income (loss)	46,017	49,323	30,859	26,138	(76,229)	26,721	(315,439)	4,722	152,337	(360,225)	97,781
Net income (loss) attributable to Tutor Perini Corporation	$ 35,495	$ 36,819	$ 18,709	$ 17,371	$ (86,117)	$ 19,313	$ (320,530)	$ (356)	$ 108,394	$ (387,690)	$ 83,436
Earnings per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.72	$ 0.37	$ 0.35	$ (1.71)	$ 0.38	$ (6.38)	$ (0.01)	$ 2.14	$ (7.72)	$ 1.67
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.69	$ 0.72	$ 0.37	$ 0.34	$ (1.71)	$ 0.38	$ (6.38)	$ (0.01)	$ 2.12	$ (7.72)	$ 1.66