Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 547,586	$ 566,332
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	497,811	512,620
Gross profit	49,775	53,712
Selling, general and administrative expenses	58,501	61,161
Other costs (see Note 7)	8,214	74,309
Gain on sales of property and equipment, net	(332)	(2,245)
Operating loss	(16,608)	(79,513)
Other (income) expense
Interest income	(623)	(233)
Interest expense	3,575	5,372
Equity in (income) loss of affiliates, net	306	(268)
Other (income) expense, net	1,382	(226)
Total other expense, net	4,640	4,645
Loss from continuing operations before benefit from income taxes	(21,248)	(84,158)
Benefit from income taxes on continuing operations	(5,331)	(21,757)
Net loss from continuing operations	(15,917)	(62,401)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	6,096	(2,922)
Net loss	(9,821)	(65,323)
Amount attributable to non-controlling interests from continuing operations	(3,118)	(872)
Net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated from continuing operations	(19,035)	(63,273)
Net income (loss) attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated from discontinued operations	6,096	(2,922)
Net loss attributable to Granite Construction Incorporated	$ (12,939)	$ (66,195)
Basic continuing operations per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.42)	$ (1.38)
Basic discontinued operations per share (in dollars per share)	0.13	(0.07)
Basic loss per share (in dollars per share)	(0.29)	(1.45)
Diluted continuing operations per share (in dollars per share)	(0.42)	(1.38)
Diluted discontinued operations per share (in dollars per share)	0.13	(0.07)
Diluted loss per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.29)	$ (1.45)
Basic (in shares)	45,730	45,697
Diluted (in shares)	45,730	45,697
Construction [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	$ 474,935	$ 506,971
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	426,743	454,202
Materials [Member]
Revenue
Total revenue	72,651	59,361
Cost of revenue
Total cost of revenue	$ 71,068	$ 58,418