Revisions in Estimates - Summary of Impact of Revisions in Estimates to Gross Profit (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) $ / shares
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Range of increase in gross profit from each project, net	$ 396,399	$ 369,494	$ 362,645
Increase to project profitability, net	59,854	91,817	22,127
Increase to net income	29,587	78,857	2,414
Increase to net income attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ 43,599	$ 83,302	$ 10,096
Increase to net income/decrease to net loss per diluted share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.97	$ 1.70	$ 0.21
Estimated Due to Production at Higher Rate
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Number of projects with upward estimate changes	1	2	2
Increase to project profitability, net	$ 8,100	$ 12,100	$ 15,400
Increase to net income	6,900	9,700	11,400
Amounts attributable to non-controlling interests	3,200	2,700	0
Increase to net income attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ 3,600	$ 7,000	$ 11,400
Increase to net income/decrease to net loss per diluted share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.07	$ 0.13	$ 0.24
Estimated Due to Production at Higher Rate | Minimum
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Range of increase in gross profit from each project, net	$ 8,100	$ 5,400	$ 6,200
Estimated Due to Production at Higher Rate | Maximum
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Range of increase in gross profit from each project, net		$ 6,800	$ 9,200
Estimated Cost Recovery of Customer Affirmative Claims and Back Charges
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Number of projects with upward estimate changes	6	8	6
Increase to project profitability, net	$ 96,900	$ 92,200	$ 86,000
Increase to net income	79,600	74,100	69,100
Amounts attributable to non-controlling interests	29,800	21,700	20,500
Increase to net income attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ 49,800	$ 52,400	$ 48,600
Increase to net income/decrease to net loss per diluted share attributable to common shareholders (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.95	$ 1.00	$ 1.02
Estimated Cost Recovery of Customer Affirmative Claims and Back Charges | Minimum
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Range of increase in gross profit from each project, net	$ 5,100	$ 5,600	$ 5,300
Estimated Cost Recovery of Customer Affirmative Claims and Back Charges | Maximum
Change in Accounting Estimate [Line Items]
Range of increase in gross profit from each project, net	$ 54,900	$ 32,200	$ 34,600