Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	$ 87,296	$ (265,400)	$ 86,148
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment		376,574
Depreciation and amortization	59,410	61,457	47,631
Stock-based compensation expense	6,623	9,470	8,818
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value		264
Adjustment of investments to fair value			4,750
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(1,148)		(18)
Deferred income taxes	9,009	(25,606)	10,854
Loss on sale of investments		2,699	10
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	49	316	(726)
Gain on bargain purchase			(47)
Other non-cash items	(3,719)	148	(601)
Other long-term liabilities	23,107	(5,104)	(13,819)
Changes in other components of working capital	(129,899)	(222,681)	(174,620)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	50,728	(67,863)	(31,620)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash balance acquired			(341,898)
Acquisition of property and equipment	(42,360)	(41,352)	(66,747)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,663	11,759	10,049
Investment in available-for-sale securities		(535)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		16,553	30,191
Change in restricted cash	(3,877)	(3,280)	(6,816)
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(43,574)	(16,855)	(375,221)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	653,280	688,425	701,753
Repayment of debt	(676,795)	(626,122)	(554,969)
Business acquisition related payments	(31,038)	(11,462)	(1,904)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	1,148		18
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(1,882)	(308)	(191)
Debt issuance costs		(1,999)	(5,004)
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(55,287)	48,534	139,703
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(48,133)	(36,184)	(267,138)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	168,056	204,240	471,378
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	119,923	168,056	204,240
Eliminations
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	(122,875)	225,100	(118,521)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	122,875	(225,100)	118,521
Tutor Perini Corporation | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	87,296	(265,400)	86,148
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	10,893	5,373	6,143
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(122,875)	225,100	(118,521)
Stock-based compensation expense	6,623	9,470	8,818
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value	(1,148)	264
Adjustment of investments to fair value			4,750
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(18)
Deferred income taxes	921	(20,220)	8,054
Loss on sale of investments		2,699	10
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment			(142)
Gain on bargain purchase			(47)
Other non-cash items	(4,341)	(228)	(659)
Other long-term liabilities	24,359	(2,518)	(9,964)
Changes in other components of working capital	72,359	25,251	(18,898)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	74,087	(20,209)	(34,326)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash balance acquired			(341,898)
Acquisition of property and equipment	(21,267)	(15,041)	(24,549)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	6	364	20
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		16,553	21,200
Change in restricted cash	11,403	(3,251)	(3,435)
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(9,858)	(1,375)	(348,662)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	627,520	688,425	599,832
Repayment of debt	(647,795)	(601,282)	(488,592)
Business acquisition related payments	(31,038)	(11,462)	(1,904)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	1,148		18
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(1,882)	(308)	(191)
Debt issuance costs		(1,999)	(5,004)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	12,150	(122,063)	191,609
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(39,897)	(48,689)	295,768
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	24,332	(70,273)	(87,220)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	64,663	134,936	222,156
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	88,995	64,663	134,936
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	109,894	(232,348)	111,125
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment		376,574
Depreciation and amortization	48,246	55,812	41,194
Deferred income taxes	8,088	(5,386)	2,800
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	49	316	(584)
Other non-cash items	622	376	58
Other long-term liabilities	(1,252)	(2,586)	(3,855)
Changes in other components of working capital	(184,543)	(268,525)	(164,460)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(18,896)	(75,767)	(13,722)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(21,093)	(26,311)	(42,198)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,657	11,395	10,029
Investment in available-for-sale securities		(535)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities			8,991
Change in restricted cash	441	(29)	(3,381)
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(17,995)	(15,480)	(26,559)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	25,760		101,921
Repayment of debt	(29,000)	(24,840)	(66,377)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(16,223)	137,980	(162,857)
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(19,463)	113,140	(127,313)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(56,354)	21,893	(167,594)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	74,385	52,492	220,086
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	18,031	74,385	52,492
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	12,981	7,248	7,396
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	271	272	294
Changes in other components of working capital	(17,715)	20,593	8,738
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(4,463)	28,113	16,428
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(15,721)
NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(15,721)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	4,073	(15,917)	(28,752)
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	4,073	(15,917)	(28,752)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(16,111)	12,196	(12,324)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	29,008	16,812	29,136
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	$ 12,897	$ 29,008	$ 16,812