Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 15,939	$ 14,800
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	14,659	13,793
Stock-based compensation expense	5,429	3,078
Deferred income taxes	45	348
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	427	(76)
Other long-term liabilities	3,494	1,851
Other non-cash items	(427)	(197)
Changes in other components of working capital	(80,696)	(118,052)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(41,130)	(84,455)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(8,352)	(12,179)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,417	239
Change in restricted cash	(675)	(6,514)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(7,610)	(18,454)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	178,038	293,014
Repayment of debt	(113,551)	(225,684)
Business acquisition-related payments	(1,031)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(1,575)	(159)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	61,881	67,171
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	13,141	(35,738)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	119,923	168,056
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	133,064	132,318
Eliminations
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	(15,281)	(24,356)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	15,281	24,356
Tutor Perini Corporation | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	15,939	14,800
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,780	1,549
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(15,281)	(24,356)
Stock-based compensation expense	5,316	3,078
Deferred income taxes	4,624	33
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	427
Other long-term liabilities	2,886	1,803
Other non-cash items	855	1,366
Changes in other components of working capital	(48,652)	24,353
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(32,106)	22,626
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(4,041)	(5,090)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(427)	6
Change in restricted cash	15,465	6,795
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	10,997	1,711
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	250,656	293,650
Repayment of debt	(179,032)	(220,262)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(1,575)	(159)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(63,312)	(97,470)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	6,737	(24,241)
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(14,372)	96
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	88,995	64,663
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	74,623	64,759
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	11,619	22,047
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	12,947	12,176
Stock-based compensation expense	113
Deferred income taxes	(4,579)	315
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment		(76)
Other long-term liabilities	608	48
Other non-cash items	(1,282)	(1,563)
Changes in other components of working capital	(37,991)	(141,988)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(18,565)	(109,041)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(4,311)	(7,089)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,844	233
Change in restricted cash	(664)	(4)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(3,131)	(6,860)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	(72,618)	(636)
Repayment of debt	65,481	(5,422)
Business acquisition-related payments	(1,031)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	60,771	96,123
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	52,603	90,065
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	30,907	(25,836)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	18,031	74,385
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	48,938	48,549
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	3,662	2,309
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	(68)	68
Changes in other components of working capital	5,947	(417)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	9,541	1,960
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(15,476)	(13,305)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(15,476)	(13,305)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	2,541	1,347
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	2,541	1,347
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(3,394)	(9,998)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	12,897	29,008
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 9,503	$ 19,010