Basis of Presentation - Summary of Impact of Adoption of Accounting Standards (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
ASSETS
Receivables, net	$ 330,192	$ 351,091	$ 479,791
Contract assets	178,663
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	0	90,112	103,965
Other current assets	43,125	54,542	36,513
Deferred income taxes, net	3,718	0	0
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Contract liabilities	71,030
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	0	91,527	135,146
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	233,637	224,850	236,407
Retained earnings	751,801	706,571	$ 783,699
Revenue
Construction	269,243	226,849
Large Project Construction	248,414	207,033
Cost of revenue
Construction	230,847	199,520
Large Project Construction	228,048	204,478
Gross profit	56,283	25,126
Operating (loss) income	(12,835)	(36,441)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(4,131)	(12,496)
Net (loss) income	(9,662)	(23,851)
Net (loss) income attributable to Granite	(11,423)	$ (23,790)
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Balances Without Adoption of Topic 606 [Member]
ASSETS
Receivables, net	426,123
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	120,136
Other current assets	43,788
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	104,306
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	220,084
Deferred income taxes, net	1,554
Retained earnings	764,872
Revenue
Construction	269,481
Large Project Construction	246,621
Cost of revenue
Construction	230,847
Large Project Construction	229,284
Gross profit	53,491
Operating (loss) income	(15,627)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	(4,794)
Net (loss) income	(11,791)
Net (loss) income attributable to Granite	(13,552)
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 | Effect of Change Higher/(Lower) [Member]
ASSETS
Receivables, net	(95,931)
Contract assets	178,663
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings	(120,136)
Other current assets	(663)
Deferred income taxes, net	3,718
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Contract liabilities	71,030
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings	(104,306)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	13,553
Deferred income taxes, net	(1,554)
Retained earnings	(13,071)
Revenue
Construction	(238)
Large Project Construction	1,793
Cost of revenue
Large Project Construction	(1,236)
Gross profit	2,792
Operating (loss) income	2,792
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	663
Net (loss) income	2,129
Net (loss) income attributable to Granite	$ 2,129