Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Ownership interest in guarantors (as a percent)	100.00%
ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 132,318	$ 168,056	$ 190,414	$ 204,240
Restricted Cash	45,231	38,717
Accounts Receivable	1,331,555	1,224,613
Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings	479,361	465,002
Deferred Income Taxes	9,721	10,071
Other Current Assets	74,500	75,388
Total current assets	2,072,686	1,981,847
Long-term Investments	46,283	46,283
Property and Equipment, net	487,385	485,095
Other Assets
Goodwill	570,646	570,646
Intangible Assets, net	123,551	126,821
Other	86,887	85,718
Total assets	3,387,438	3,296,410
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Maturities of Long-term Debt	67,330	67,710
Accounts Payable	705,916	696,473
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings	295,265	301,761
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	176,249	168,326
Total current liabilities	1,244,760	1,234,270
Long-term Debt, less current maturities	737,083	669,380
Deferred Income Taxes	109,988	109,900
Other Long-term Liabilities	133,909	138,996
Contingencies and commitments
Stockholders' Equity	1,161,698	1,143,864
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,387,438	3,296,410
Tutor Perini Corporation
ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents	64,759	64,663	122,283	134,936
Restricted Cash	23,441	30,236
Accounts Receivable	228,946	177,856
Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings	94,935	111,821
Other Current Assets	43,674	26,461
Total current assets	455,755	411,037
Long-term Investments	46,283	46,283
Property and Equipment, net	68,502	64,248
Other Assets
Investment in Subsidiaries	2,083,424	2,122,116
Other	80,809	81,198
Total assets	2,734,773	2,724,882
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Maturities of Long-term Debt	42,165	42,589
Accounts Payable	133,630	97,834
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings	110,907	95,657
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	63,815	30,545
Total current liabilities	350,517	266,625
Long-term Debt, less current maturities	677,244	603,371
Deferred Income Taxes	102,227	102,138
Other Long-term Liabilities	129,595	134,874
Intercompany Notes and Advances Payable	313,492	474,010
Stockholders' Equity	1,161,698	1,143,864
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,734,773	2,724,882
Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents	48,549	74,385	41,080	52,492
Restricted Cash	8,485	8,481
Accounts Receivable	1,221,539	1,121,098
Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings	409,959	377,132
Deferred Income Taxes	15,488	15,823
Other Current Assets	39,572	49,993
Total current assets	1,743,592	1,646,912
Property and Equipment, net	414,110	416,006
Intercompany Notes and Receivables	334,261	493,277
Other Assets
Goodwill	570,646	570,646
Intangible Assets, net	123,551	126,821
Investment in Subsidiaries	4	134
Other	10,682	9,058
Total assets	3,196,846	3,262,854
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Maturities of Long-term Debt	25,165	25,121
Accounts Payable	720,808	698,015
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings	184,324	206,070
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	88,419	108,589
Total current liabilities	1,018,716	1,037,795
Long-term Debt, less current maturities	99,818	105,922
Deferred Income Taxes	7,761	7,762
Other Long-term Liabilities	4,314	4,122
Stockholders' Equity	2,066,237	2,107,253
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,196,846	3,262,854
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents	19,010	29,008	27,051	16,812
Restricted Cash	13,305
Accounts Receivable	4,577	1,088
Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings	152	152
Other Current Assets	3,947	2,891
Total current assets	40,991	33,139
Property and Equipment, net	4,773	4,841
Other Assets
Investment in Subsidiaries	50	50
Other	35,375	35,375
Total assets	81,189	73,405
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts Payable	671	156
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings	34	34
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	42,514	38,901
Total current liabilities	43,219	39,091
Intercompany Notes and Advances Payable	20,720	19,267
Stockholders' Equity	17,250	15,047
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	81,189	73,405
Eliminations
ASSETS
Accounts Receivable	(123,507)	(75,429)
Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings	(25,685)	(24,103)
Deferred Income Taxes	(5,767)	(5,752)
Other Current Assets	(12,693)	(3,957)
Total current assets	(167,652)	(109,241)
Intercompany Notes and Receivables	(334,261)	(493,277)
Other Assets
Investment in Subsidiaries	(2,083,478)	(2,122,300)
Other	(39,979)	(39,913)
Total assets	(2,625,370)	(2,764,731)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts Payable	(149,193)	(99,532)
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	(18,499)	(9,709)
Total current liabilities	(167,692)	(109,241)
Long-term Debt, less current maturities	(39,979)	(39,913)
Intercompany Notes and Advances Payable	(334,212)	(493,277)
Stockholders' Equity	(2,083,487)	(2,122,300)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ (2,625,370)	$ (2,764,731)
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.625%