Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	$ 992,928	$ 912,534
Cost of Operations	892,571	826,375
Gross profit	100,357	86,159
General and Administrative Expenses	64,278	69,196
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	36,079	16,963
Other Income (Expense), net	(827)	(2,308)
Interest Expense	(11,336)	(11,082)
Income before income taxes	23,916	3,573
(Provision) Credit for Income Taxes	(9,116)	(4,776)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	14,800	(1,203)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation	(186)	323
Change in fair value of investments	101	202
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	168	(685)
Realized loss on sale of investments recorded in net income (loss)		2,005
Total other comprehensive income	83	1,845
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	14,883	642
Tutor Perini Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	139,777	69,125
Cost of Operations	125,089	62,694
Gross profit	14,688	6,431
General and Administrative Expenses	18,777	18,909
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	(4,089)	(12,478)
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	24,356	17,532
Other Income (Expense), net	(809)	(2,064)
Interest Expense	(10,545)	(10,071)
Income before income taxes	8,913	(7,081)
(Provision) Credit for Income Taxes	5,887	5,878
NET INCOME (LOSS)	14,800	(1,203)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	(85)	525
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	168	(685)
Realized loss on sale of investments recorded in net income (loss)		2,005
Total other comprehensive income	83	1,845
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	14,883	642
Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	921,413	861,695
Cost of Operations	839,820	785,894
Gross profit	81,593	75,801
General and Administrative Expenses	45,031	49,718
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	36,562	26,083
Other Income (Expense), net	(144)	(476)
Interest Expense	(791)	(1,011)
Income before income taxes	35,627	24,596
(Provision) Credit for Income Taxes	(13,580)	(9,297)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	22,047	15,299
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation	(186)	323
Change in fair value of investments	101	202
Total other comprehensive income	(85)	525
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	21,962	15,824
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Cost of Operations	(4,076)	(3,927)
Gross profit	4,076	3,927
General and Administrative Expenses	470	569
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	3,606	3,358
Other Income (Expense), net	126	232
Income before income taxes	3,732	3,590
(Provision) Credit for Income Taxes	(1,423)	(1,357)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	2,309	2,233
Other Comprehensive Income:
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	2,309	2,233
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	(68,262)	(18,286)
Cost of Operations	(68,262)	(18,286)
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	(24,356)	(17,532)
Income before income taxes	(24,356)	(17,532)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(24,356)	(17,532)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	85	(525)
Total other comprehensive income	85	(525)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ (24,271)	$ (18,057)