Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 3,010,053	$ 3,128,879	$ 2,914,877
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	2,704,497	2,824,226	2,725,092
Gross profit	305,556	304,653	189,785
Selling, general and administrative expenses	243,083	252,879	238,147
Other costs (see Note 1)	95,155	36,964	6,735
Gain on sales of property and equipment, net (see Note 11)	(33,781)	(4,925)	(13,373)
Operating income (loss)	1,099	19,735	(41,724)
Other (income) expense
Interest income	(1,178)	(3,017)	(7,256)
Interest expense	20,282	23,866	18,052
Equity in income of affiliates, net	(3,465)	(5,191)	(6,991)
Other income, net	(5,044)	(4,068)	(5,305)
Total other (income) expense, net	10,595	11,590	(1,500)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(9,496)	8,145	(40,224)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes on continuing operations	(1,237)	9,927	(12,288)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(8,259)	(1,782)	(27,936)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	10,673	(164,399)	(28,766)
Net income (loss)	2,414	(166,181)	(56,702)
Amount attributable to non-controlling interests from continuing operations	7,682	21,064	(3,489)
Net income (loss) attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated from continuing operations	(577)	19,282	(31,425)
Net income (loss) attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated from discontinued operations	10,673	(164,399)	(28,766)
Net income (loss) attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ 10,096	$ (145,117)	$ (60,191)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders (see Note 18):
Basic continuing operations per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.42	$ (0.67)
Basic discontinued operations per share (in dollars per share)	0.23	(3.60)	(0.62)
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.22	(3.18)	(1.29)
Diluted continuing operations per share (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	0.42	(0.67)
Diluted discontinued operations per share (in dollars per share)	0.23	(3.56)	(0.62)
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ (3.14)	$ (1.29)
Basic (in shares)	45,788	45,614	46,559
Diluted (in shares)	45,788	46,203	46,559
Construction [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 2,602,306	$ 2,764,094	$ 2,575,791
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	2,353,956	2,522,650	2,429,319
Materials [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	407,747	364,785	339,086
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	$ 350,541	$ 301,576	$ 295,773