Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	$ 1,099,291	$ 1,030,388	$ 1,053,065	$ 992,928	$ 1,114,198	$ 1,099,393	$ 985,346	$ 912,534	$ 4,175,672	$ 4,111,471	$ 3,716,317
Cost of operations									3,708,768	3,696,339	3,320,976
Gross profit	139,735	120,857	105,955	100,357	126,449	115,463	87,061	86,159	466,904	415,132	395,341
General and administrative expenses									263,082	260,369	226,965
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment							376,600			376,574
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	70,175	58,094	39,474	36,079	60,724	54,676	(354,174)	16,963	203,822	(221,811)	168,376
Other income (expense), net									(18,575)	(1,857)	4,421
Interest expense									(45,632)	(44,174)	(35,750)
Income (Loss) before income taxes	53,507	37,035	25,157	23,916	48,098	44,182	(363,695)	3,573	139,615	(267,842)	137,047
Provision for Income Taxes									(52,319)	2,442	(50,899)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	33,259	23,759	15,478	14,800	41,635	42,591	(348,423)	(1,203)	87,296	(265,400)	86,148
Other Comprehensive Income:
Change in pension benefit plans assets/liabilities									10,910
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability										(1,610)	(7,041)
Foreign currency translation									(738)	382	(733)
Change in fair value of investments									(555)	238	199
Change in fair value of interest rate swap									578	(974)
Realized loss on sale of investments recorded in net income (loss)										2,005
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									10,195	41	(7,575)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									97,491	(265,359)	78,573
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues									179,624	(88,269)	(214,736)
Cost of operations									179,624	(88,269)	(214,736)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(122,875)	225,100	(118,521)
Income (Loss) before income taxes									(122,875)	225,100	(118,521)
NET INCOME (LOSS)									(122,875)	225,100	(118,521)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other comprehensive income of subsidiaries									1,293	(620)	534
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									1,293	(620)	534
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									(121,582)	224,480	(117,987)
Tutor Perini Corporation | Reportable legal entity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues									680,440	429,926	300,791
Cost of operations									590,675	375,914	260,251
Gross profit									89,765	54,012	40,540
General and administrative expenses									77,507	71,983	64,472
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									12,258	(17,971)	(23,932)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									122,875	(225,100)	118,521
Other income (expense), net									(27,162)	(2,603)	5,292
Interest expense									(41,987)	(40,067)	(32,741)
Income (Loss) before income taxes									65,984	(285,741)	67,140
Provision for Income Taxes									21,312	20,341	19,008
NET INCOME (LOSS)									87,296	(265,400)	86,148
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other comprehensive income of subsidiaries									(1,293)	620	(534)
Change in pension benefit plans assets/liabilities									10,910
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability										(1,610)	(7,041)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap									578	(974)
Realized loss on sale of investments recorded in net income (loss)										2,005
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									10,195	41	(7,575)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									97,491	(265,359)	78,573
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues									3,315,608	3,769,814	3,630,262
Cost of operations									2,960,569	3,421,877	3,288,739
Gross profit									355,039	347,937	341,523
General and administrative expenses									183,723	186,831	160,926
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment										376,574
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									171,316	(215,468)	180,597
Other income (expense), net									8,075	382	(919)
Interest expense									(3,645)	(4,107)	(3,009)
Income (Loss) before income taxes									175,746	(219,193)	176,669
Provision for Income Taxes									(65,852)	(13,155)	(65,544)
NET INCOME (LOSS)									109,894	(232,348)	111,125
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation									(738)	382	(733)
Change in fair value of investments									(555)	238	199
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									(1,293)	620	(534)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									108,601	(231,728)	110,591
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Cost of operations									(22,100)	(13,183)	(13,278)
Gross profit									22,100	13,183	13,278
General and administrative expenses									1,852	1,555	1,567
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									20,248	11,628	11,711
Other income (expense), net									512	364	48
Income (Loss) before income taxes									20,760	11,992	11,759
Provision for Income Taxes									(7,779)	(4,744)	(4,363)
NET INCOME (LOSS)									12,981	7,248	7,396
Other Comprehensive Income:
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)									$ 12,981	$ 7,248	$ 7,396