Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures - Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 212,463,000		$ 287,322,000		$ 212,463,000		$ 287,322,000		$ 321,990,000		$ 256,990,000
Other current assets	33,204,000		13,974,000		33,204,000		13,974,000		31,834,000
Total current assets	1,041,672,000		1,019,908,000		1,041,672,000		1,019,908,000		1,022,057,000
Property and equipment, net	456,524,000		432,293,000		456,524,000		432,293,000		481,478,000
Other noncurrent assets	78,655,000		68,475,000		78,655,000		68,475,000		84,392,000
Total assets	1,726,002,000		1,598,635,000		1,726,002,000		1,598,635,000		1,729,487,000
Accounts payable	199,480,000		209,683,000		199,480,000		209,683,000		202,541,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	144,706,000		91,348,000		144,706,000		91,348,000		139,692,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	219,169,000		167,166,000		219,169,000		167,166,000		169,979,000
Total current liabilities	565,522,000		493,261,000		565,522,000		493,261,000		531,272,000
Construction	470,567,000		385,744,000		956,287,000		748,803,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities					(64,515,000)		20,163,000
Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	5				5
Partnership Interest [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	5,000,000,000				5,000,000,000
Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	57,133,000	[1]	74,020,000	[1]	57,133,000	[1]	74,020,000	[1]	105,865,000	[1]
Receivables, Net, Current	47,696,000		31,028,000		47,696,000		31,028,000		43,902,000
Other current assets	3,815,000		1,351,000		3,815,000		1,351,000		4,008,000
Total current assets	108,644,000		106,399,000		108,644,000		106,399,000		153,775,000
Property and equipment, net	28,194,000		6,661,000		28,194,000		6,661,000		41,114,000
Other noncurrent assets	0		0		0		0		1,700,000
Total assets	136,838,000	[2]	113,060,000	[2]	136,838,000	[2]	113,060,000	[2]	196,589,000	[2]
Accounts payable	20,075,000		30,975,000		20,075,000		30,975,000		34,536,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	70,518,000	[1]	13,955,000	[1]	70,518,000	[1]	13,955,000	[1]	72,490,000	[1]
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	12,804,000		3,495,000		12,804,000		3,495,000		8,312,000
Total liabilities	103,397,000	[2]	48,425,000	[2]	103,397,000	[2]	48,425,000	[2]	115,338,000	[2]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	4				4
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	11				11
Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	1,400,000,000				1,400,000,000
Other Partners Interest in Partnerships [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	3,600,000,000				3,600,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	400,000				400,000
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures	300,000				300,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	51.00%				51.00%
Construction	42,400,000		77,400,000		131,100,000		174,000,000
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities					(10,400,000)		16,100,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	40,000,000				40,000,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	20.00%				20.00%
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	42,200,000				42,200,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	200,000				200,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	23,000,000				23,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	336,900,000				336,900,000
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures	111,000,000				111,000,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	65.00%				65.00%
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	3,100,000,000				3,100,000,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	50.00%				50.00%
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	138,600,000				138,600,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	691,000,000				691,000,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	$ 60,800,000				$ 60,800,000

[1] The volume and stage of completion of contracts from our consolidated construction joint ventures may cause fluctuations in cash and cash equivalents, as well as billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings between periods.

[2] The assets and liabilities of each joint venture relate solely to that joint venture. The decision to distribute joint venture cash and cash equivalents and assets must generally be made jointly by all of the partners and, accordingly, these cash and cash equivalents and assets generally are not available for the working capital needs of Granite until distributed.