CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total Granite Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 795,635	$ 761,031	$ 387	$ 104,232	$ 656,412	$ 34,604
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			38,745,542
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	66,085	51,161	0	0	51,161	14,924
Stock units vested	0	0	1	(1)	0	0
Stock units vested (in shares)			80,245
Amortized restricted stock	12,155	12,155	0	12,155	0	0
Purchase of common stock	(4,029)	(4,029)	(1)	(4,028)	0	0
Purchase of common stock (in shares)			(143,527)
Cash dividends on common stock	(20,107)	(20,107)	0	0	(20,107)	0
Net tax on stock-based compensation	(1,360)	(1,360)	0	(1,360)	0	0
Transactions with noncontrolling interests, net	(21,062)	0	0	0	0	(21,062)
Stock options exercised and other	346	346	0	516	(170)	0
Stock options exercised and other (in shares)			511
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	827,663	799,197	387	111,514	687,296	28,466
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			38,682,771
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	59,920	45,283	0	0	45,283	14,637
Stock units vested	1	1	2	(1)	0	0
Stock units vested (in shares)			191,285
Amortized restricted stock	11,475	11,475	0	11,475	0	0
Purchase of common stock	(4,854)	(4,854)	(2)	(4,852)	0	0
Purchase of common stock (in shares)			(161,080)
Cash dividends on common stock	(20,117)	(20,117)	0	0	(20,117)	0
Net tax on stock-based compensation	(1,573)	(1,573)	0	(1,573)	0	0
Noncontrolling interest from acquisition	14,788	0	0	0	0	14,788
Transactions with noncontrolling interests, net	(15,986)	0	0	0	0	(15,986)
Stock options exercised and other	541	541	0	859	(318)	0
Stock options exercised and other (in shares)			17,689
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	871,858	829,953	387	117,422	712,144	41,905
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	38,730,665		38,730,665
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(44,766)	(36,423)	0	0	(36,423)	(8,343)
Stock units vested	0	0	4	(4)	0	0
Stock units vested (in shares)			359,941
Amortized restricted stock	13,443	13,443	0	13,443	0	0
Purchase of common stock	(5,902)	(5,902)	(2)	(5,900)	0	0
Purchase of common stock (in shares)			(197,313)
Cash dividends on common stock	(20,210)	(20,210)	0	0	(20,210)	0
Net tax on stock-based compensation	419	419	0	419	0	0
Transactions with noncontrolling interests, net	(29,158)	0	0	0	0	(29,158)
Stock options exercised and other	660	660	0	1,069	(409)	0
Stock options exercised and other (in shares)			24,435
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 786,344	$ 781,940	$ 389	$ 126,449	$ 655,102	$ 4,404
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	38,917,728		38,917,728