Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 44,484	$ 30,278
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	30,078	27,566
Stock-based compensation expense	9,920	4,624
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation		(358)
Deferred income taxes	(64)	500
(Gain) loss on sale of investments	1,786
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	427	(180)
Other long-term liabilities	5,559	8,449
Other non-cash items	1,562	(111)
Changes in other components of working capital	(155,187)	(109,338)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(61,435)	(38,570)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(26,730)	(28,127)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,906	2,359
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	44,497
Change in restricted cash	(33)	(8,302)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	19,640	(34,070)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	717,484	421,550
Repayment of debt	(649,282)	(374,987)
Business acquisition-related payments	(1,260)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation		358
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(1,531)	341
Debt issuance costs	(3,681)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	61,730	47,262
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	19,935	(25,378)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	119,923	168,056
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	139,858	142,678
Eliminations
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(47,029)	(48,796)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	47,029	48,796
Tutor Perini Corporation | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	44,484	30,278
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	4,866	3,230
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(47,029)	(48,796)
Stock-based compensation expense	9,920	4,624
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation		(358)
Deferred income taxes	4,672	235
(Gain) loss on sale of investments	1,786
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment		(180)
Other long-term liabilities	6,624	9,204
Other non-cash items	(3,620)	864
Changes in other components of working capital	(53,928)	41,842
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(32,225)	40,943
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(16,715)	(16,299)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		186
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	44,497
Change in restricted cash	15,465	6,795
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	43,247	(9,318)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	685,079	395,365
Repayment of debt	(604,773)	(363,252)
Business acquisition-related payments	(1,226)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation		358
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(1,531)	341
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(96,181)	(39,004)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(18,632)	(6,192)
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(7,610)	25,433
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	88,995	64,663
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	81,385	90,096
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	38,515	44,368
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	25,077	24,201
Deferred income taxes	(4,736)	265
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	427
Other long-term liabilities	(1,065)	(755)
Other non-cash items	5,182	(975)
Changes in other components of working capital	(104,577)	(111,153)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(41,177)	(44,049)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(10,015)	(11,828)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	1,906	2,173
Change in restricted cash	(10)	612
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(8,119)	(9,043)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	32,405	26,185
Repayment of debt	(44,509)	(11,735)
Business acquisition-related payments	(34)
Debt issuance costs	(3,681)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	97,506	1,023
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	81,687	15,473
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	32,391	(37,619)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	18,031	74,385
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	50,422	36,766
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	8,514	4,428
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	135	135
Changes in other components of working capital	3,318	(40,027)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	11,967	(35,464)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(15,488)	(15,709)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(15,488)	(15,709)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(1,325)	37,981
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(1,325)	37,981
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(4,846)	(13,192)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	12,897	29,008
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 8,051	$ 15,816