Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures - Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 205,780,000		$ 260,773,000		$ 229,121,000		$ 321,990,000
Other current assets	40,142,000		37,401,000		30,711,000
Total current assets	898,725,000		976,220,000		950,203,000
Property and equipment, net	432,398,000		477,666,000		436,859,000
Total assets	1,561,171,000		1,678,710,000		1,617,155,000
Accounts payable	141,241,000		169,940,000		160,706,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	125,618,000		124,609,000		138,375,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	193,307,000		188,685,000		197,242,000
Total current liabilities	461,413,000		495,719,000		497,570,000
Construction	157,040,000		177,119,000
Net cash used in operating activities	(19,777,000)		(54,653,000)
Partnership Interest [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	4,200,000,000
Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	27,612,000	[1]	98,738,000	[1]	38,800,000	[1]
Receivables, Net, Current	39,014,000		47,040,000		38,372,000
Other current assets	4,624,000		3,867,000		4,778,000
Total current assets	71,250,000		149,645,000		81,950,000
Property and equipment, net	19,801,000		39,486,000		22,216,000
Total assets	91,051,000	[2]	189,131,000	[2]	104,166,000	[2]
Accounts payable	22,136,000		26,354,000		16,937,000
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	43,087,000	[1]	71,821,000	[1]	60,185,000	[1]
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	7,074,000		8,983,000		11,299,000
Total liabilities	72,297,000	[2]	107,158,000	[2]	88,421,000	[2]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	4
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	11
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	4
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	1,200,000,000
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	3,000,000,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	400,000
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures	100,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	51.00%
Construction	32,100,000		18,300,000
Net cash used in operating activities	(22,500,000)		6,600,000
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	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%
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	42,400,000
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	300,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	23,600,000
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	337,400,000
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Consolidated Construction Joint Ventures	59,600,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	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
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	50.00%
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	74,700,000
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	591,100,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	$ 62,100,000

[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.