CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue
Construction	$ 1,251,197,000	$ 984,106,000	$ 1,043,614,000
Large Project Construction	777,811,000	863,217,000	725,043,000
Construction Materials	237,752,000	230,642,000	220,583,000
Real Estate	141,000	5,072,000	20,291,000
Total revenue	2,266,901,000	2,083,037,000	2,009,531,000
Cost of revenue
Construction	1,144,823,000	906,143,000	919,108,000
Large Project Construction	706,003,000	714,799,000	620,935,000
Construction Materials	230,799,000	223,070,000	203,942,000
Real Estate	13,000	4,266,000	17,583,000
Total cost of revenue	2,081,638,000	1,848,278,000	1,761,568,000
Gross profit	185,263,000	234,759,000	247,963,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	199,946,000	185,099,000	162,302,000
Operating (loss) income	(54,692,000)	80,835,000	99,269,000
Other (expense) income
Interest income	1,785,000	2,626,000	2,878,000
Interest expense	(14,386,000)	(10,603,000)	(10,362,000)
Equity in income of affiliates	1,304,000	1,988,000	2,193,000
Other income (expense), net	1,960,000	6,183,000	(4,545,000)
Total other (expense) income	(9,337,000)	194,000	(9,836,000)
(Loss) income before (benefit from) provision for income taxes	(64,029,000)	81,029,000	89,433,000
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(19,263,000)	21,109,000	23,348,000
Net (loss) income	(44,766,000)	59,920,000	66,085,000
Amount attributable to non-controlling interests	8,343,000	(14,637,000)	(14,924,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ (36,423,000)	$ 45,283,000	$ 51,161,000
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders (see Note 16)
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.94)	$ 1.17	$ 1.32
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.94)	$ 1.15	$ 1.31
Weighted average shares of common stock
Weighted average common stock outstanding, basic (in shares)	38,803	38,447	38,117
Weighted average common stock outstanding, diluted (in shares)	38,803	39,076	38,473
Dividends per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.52	$ 0.52	$ 0.52