Business acquisition equity interest number of option issued per single option.

No definition available.

Name:	mlm_BusinessAcquisitionEquityInterestNumberOfOptionIssuedPerSingleOption
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Common stock price.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_CommonStockPrice
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Company normal retirement age.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_CompanyNormalRetirementAge
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cumulative shares issued under shareholder value achievement plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_CumulativeSharesIssuedUnderShareholderValueAchievementPlan
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum percentage of directors retainer required to be paid in common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_MinimumPercentageOfDirectorsRetainerRequiredToBePaidInCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Non-qualified stock options received by non-employee directors.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_NonQualifiedStockOptionsReceivedByNonEmployeeDirectors
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of discount rate to market value on directors fees paid in common stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_PercentageOfDiscountRateToMarketValueOnDirectorsFeesPaidInCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage Of Discount Rate To The Market Value On The Incentive Compensation

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_PercentageOfDiscountRateToMarketValueOnIncentiveCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of incentive compensation to acquire shares maximum.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_PercentageOfIncentiveCompensationToAcquireSharesMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based Compensation Arrangement By Share based Payment Award after employment termination Expiration period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAfterEmploymentTerminationExpirationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award options replacement in period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mlm_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsReplacementInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mlm_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total recognized tax benefit related to compensation cost for equity-based payment arrangements recognized in income during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of options outstanding.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of share instruments newly issued under a share-based compensation plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardSharesIssuedInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Intrinsic value of equity-based compensation awards not vested. Excludes stock and unit options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueNonvested
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Intrinsic value of equity-based compensation awards vested. Excludes stock and unit options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueVested
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of difference between fair value of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise price of vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=mlm_IncentiveStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=mlm_RestrictedStockServiceBasedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=mlm_RestrictedStockPerformanceBasedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=mlm_DirectorsAwardsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationSeparatelyRecognizedTransactionsAxis=mlm_TexasIndustriesIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=mlm_StockOptionsTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=mlm_StockOptionsOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardDateAxis=mlm_StockOptionFourMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Non-qualified stock options received by nonemployee board of directors	3,000
Weighted-average grant-date exercise price of options granted	$ 154.58	$ 121.00	$ 108.24
Aggregate intrinsic values of options exercised	$ 7,318	$ 9,709	$ 7,142
Aggregate intrinsic values for options outstanding	29,536
Aggregate intrinsic values for options exercisable	$ 26,925
Common stock price	$ 136.58
Percentage of incentive compensation to acquire shares, maximum	50.00%
Percentage of discount rate to market value on the incentive compensation	20.00%
Company normal retirement age	62 years
Awards available for grant	2,099,000
Common stock reserved for future issuance	250,000
Common stock issued under the plan	42,025
Recognized tax benefit related to stock-based compensation expense	$ 5,286	$ 3,542	$ 2,772
Incentive Compensation Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock price	$ 136.58
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock awards, granted	$ 108.53	$ 109.17	$ 99.23
Aggregate intrinsic values for stock awards	$ 1,920
Aggregate intrinsic values of stock awards, distributed	$ 983	$ 584	$ 466
Restricted Stock - Service Based Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock awards, granted	$ 154.26	$ 126.88	$ 108.24
Restricted Stock - Performance Based Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of stock awards, granted	$ 108.53	$ 129.14
Restricted Stock Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Aggregate intrinsic values for stock awards	$ 44,412
Aggregate intrinsic values of stock awards, distributed	$ 11,387	$ 3,555	$ 9,413
Directors' Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock reserved for future issuance	300,000
Minimum percentage of board of directors retainer required to be paid in common stock	20.00%
Percentage of discount rate to market value on board of directors fees paid in common stock	20.00%
Common stock issued under the plan	4,035	3,804	6,583
Texas Industries Inc.
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options issued to former option holders	821,282
Number of options issued per single option	0.7
Employee stock options expiration period	90 days
Options granted in 2015 and 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Employee stock options expiration date	10 years
Options granted prior to 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Employee stock options expiration date	8 years
Options granted prior to 2009
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Employee stock options expiration date	10 years