Construction and Line Item Joint Ventures - Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Equity in construction joint ventures	$ 185,859,000	[1]	$ 148,727,000		$ 185,859,000	[1]	$ 148,727,000		$ 162,673,000	[1]
Granite Construction [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	23,200,000		14,200,000		25,700,000		31,200,000
Partnership Interest [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Revenue Remaining to be Recognized on Unconsolidated Construction Joint Ventures	3,900,000,000				3,900,000,000
Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
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	9				9
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	392,165,000		259,255,000		741,331,000		484,558,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue	345,704,000		212,779,000		643,166,000		371,475,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	49,400,000		45,600,000		100,400,000		111,600,000
Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Number of Active Joint Venture Projects	4				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	1,100,000,000				1,100,000,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Assets	291,360,000		269,571,000		291,360,000		269,571,000		296,391,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Liabilities	105,501,000		120,844,000		105,501,000		120,844,000		133,718,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	123,639,000		86,599,000		212,948,000		158,197,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue	99,639,000		71,120,000		186,194,000		122,495,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Gross Profit Loss	24,000,000		15,479,000		26,754,000		35,702,000
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	2,800,000,000				2,800,000,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Assets	572,753,000		512,775,000		572,753,000		512,775,000		612,530,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Liabilities	254,865,000		282,521,000		254,865,000		282,521,000		371,760,000
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Revenue	268,526,000	[2]	172,656,000	[2]	528,383,000	[2]	326,361,000	[2]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Cost of Revenue	246,065,000	[2]	141,659,000	[2]	456,972,000	[2]	248,980,000	[2]
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	400,000				400,000
Proportionate Share of the Consolidated Joint Ventures Equity Owned by or Beneficial Interest in the Reporting Entity Directly or Indirectly	51.00%				51.00%
Minimum [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	96,600,000				96,600,000
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	42,400,000				42,400,000
Revenue Per Project Remaining to be Recognized on Line Item Construction Joint Ventures	100,000				100,000
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	100,000				100,000
Minimum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	28,500,000				28,500,000
Maximum [Member] | Joint Venture Consolidated [Member] | Consolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	364,400,000				364,400,000
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	84,900,000				84,900,000
Revenue Per Project Remaining to be Recognized on Line Item Construction Joint Ventures	29,500,000				29,500,000
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	548,200,000				548,200,000
Maximum [Member] | Reporting Entitys Interest in Joint Venture [Member] | Line Item Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Construction Contract Value	62,600,000				62,600,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Assets	226,217,000	[1]	342,534,000		226,217,000	[1]	342,534,000		385,094,000	[1]
Other Assets, Current and Longterm [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Assets	637,896,000		439,812,000		637,896,000		439,812,000		523,827,000
Accounts Payable [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Liabilities	133,914,000		115,606,000		133,914,000		115,606,000		155,985,000
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Liabilities	162,951,000	[1]	262,259,000		162,951,000	[1]	262,259,000		245,341,000	[1]
Accrued Liabilities [Member] | Joint Venture Unconsolidated [Member] | Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture [Member]
Construction Joint Venture [Line Items]
Unconsolidated Construction Joint Venture Liabilities	$ 63,501,000		$ 25,500,000		$ 63,501,000		$ 25,500,000		$ 104,152,000

[1] ventures:(in thousands) June 30, 2014 December 31, 2013 June 30, 2013Assets: Cash and cash equivalents1 $226,217 $385,094 $342,534Other assets 637,896 523,827 439,812Less partners’ interest 572,753 612,530 512,775Granite’s interest 291,360 296,391 269,571Liabilities: Accounts payable 133,914 155,985 115,606Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings1 162,951 245,341 262,259Other liabilities 63,501 104,152 25,500Less partners’ interest 254,865 371,760 282,521Granite’s interest 105,501 133,718 120,844Equity in construction joint ventures $185,859 $162,673 $148,727 1The volume and stage of completion of contracts from our unconsolidated construction joint ventures may cause fluctuations in cash and cash equivalents as well as billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings between periods. 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 unt

[2] istributed. Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,(in thousands) 2014 2013 2014 2013Revenue: Total $392,165 $259,255 $741,331 $484,558Less partners’ interest1 268,526 172,656 528,383 326,361Granite’s interest 123,639 86,599 212,948 158,197Cost of revenue: Total 345,704 212,779 643,166 371,475Less partners’ interest1 246,065 141,659 456,972 248,980Granite’s interest 99,639 71,120 186,194 122,495Granite’s interest in gross profit $24,000 $15,479 $26,754 $35,7021Partners’ interest represents amounts to reconcile total revenue and total cost of revenue as reported by our partners to Granite’s interest adjusted to reflect our accou