Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Ownership interest in guarantors (as a percent)	100.00%
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 119,923	$ 168,056	$ 204,240	$ 471,378
Restricted cash	42,594	38,717
Accounts receivable, including retainage	1,291,246	1,224,613
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	573,248	465,002
Deferred income taxes	8,240	10,071
Other current assets	50,669	75,388
Total current assets	2,085,920	1,981,847
Long-term investments	46,283	46,283
Property and equipment, net	498,125	485,095
Other assets:
Goodwill	577,756	570,646	892,602	788,818
Intangible assets, net	113,740	126,821
Other	75,614	85,718
Total assets	3,397,438	3,296,410	3,613,127
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt	114,658	67,710
Accounts payable, including retainage	758,225	696,473
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	267,586	301,761
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	158,017	168,326
Total current liabilities	1,298,486	1,234,270
Long-term debt, less current maturities	619,226	669,380
Deferred income taxes	114,333	109,900
Other long-term liabilities	117,858	138,996
Contingencies and commitments
Stockholders' Equity	1,247,535	1,143,864	1,399,827	1,312,994
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,397,438	3,296,410
Eliminations
ASSETS
Accounts receivable, including retainage	(90,951)	(75,429)
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	(32,662)	(24,103)
Deferred income taxes	(7,626)	(5,752)
Other current assets	(37,632)	(3,957)
Total current assets	(168,871)	(109,241)
Intercompany notes and receivables	(428,190)	(493,277)
Other assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	(2,181,359)	(2,122,300)
Other	(5,183)	(39,913)
Total assets	(2,783,603)	(2,764,731)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable, including retainage	(88,103)	(99,532)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(47,841)	(9,709)
Total current liabilities	(135,944)	(109,241)
Long-term debt, less current maturities	(40,183)	(39,913)
Intercompany notes and advances payable	(445,910)	(493,277)
Stockholders' Equity	(2,161,566)	(2,122,300)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	(2,783,603)	(2,764,731)
Tutor Perini Corporation | Reportable legal entity
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	88,995	64,663	134,936	222,156
Restricted cash	18,833	30,236
Accounts receivable, including retainage	208,227	177,856
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	99,779	111,821
Other current assets	37,605	26,461
Total current assets	453,439	411,037
Long-term investments	46,283	46,283
Property and equipment, net	77,562	64,248
Other assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	2,181,280	2,122,116
Other	70,269	81,198
Total assets	2,828,833	2,724,882
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt	50,578	42,589
Accounts payable, including retainage	162,292	97,834
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	90,267	95,657
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	58,232	30,545
Total current liabilities	361,369	266,625
Long-term debt, less current maturities	575,356	603,371
Deferred income taxes	107,448	102,138
Other long-term liabilities	114,677	134,874
Intercompany notes and advances payable	422,448	474,010
Stockholders' Equity	1,247,535	1,143,864
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	2,828,833	2,724,882
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	18,031	74,385	52,492	220,086
Restricted cash	8,040	8,481
Accounts receivable, including retainage	1,126,012	1,121,098
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	505,979	377,132
Deferred income taxes	15,866	15,823
Other current assets	26,234	49,993
Total current assets	1,700,162	1,646,912
Property and equipment, net	415,993	416,006
Intercompany notes and receivables	428,190	493,277
Other assets:
Goodwill	577,756	570,646
Intangible assets, net	113,740	126,821
Investment in subsidiaries	29	134
Other	10,528	9,058
Total assets	3,246,398	3,262,854
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt	64,080	25,121
Accounts payable, including retainage	677,997	698,015
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	177,285	206,070
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	99,257	108,589
Total current liabilities	1,018,619	1,037,795
Long-term debt, less current maturities	84,053	105,922
Deferred income taxes	6,885	7,762
Other long-term liabilities	3,181	4,122
Stockholders' Equity	2,133,660	2,107,253
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,246,398	3,262,854
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	12,897	29,008	16,812	29,136
Restricted cash	15,721
Accounts receivable, including retainage	47,958	1,088
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	152	152
Other current assets	24,462	2,891
Total current assets	101,190	33,139
Property and equipment, net	4,570	4,841
Other assets:
Investment in subsidiaries	50	50
Other		35,375
Total assets	105,810	73,405
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable, including retainage	6,039	156
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	34	34
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	48,369	38,901
Total current liabilities	54,442	39,091
Intercompany notes and advances payable	23,462	19,267
Stockholders' Equity	27,906	15,047
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 105,810	$ 73,405
7.625% Senior Notes due 2018
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
Interest rate (as a percent)	7.625%	7.625%