Guarantor/Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	Jun. 25, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010	Jun. 26, 2010	Dec. 26, 2009
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 326,790	$ 346,904	$ 314,373	$ 180,786
Receivables, net	453,066	410,566
Inventories	366,185	280,223
Prepaid expenses	30,862	23,806
Refundable and deferred income taxes	34,850	32,727
Total current assets	1,211,753	1,094,226
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	906,706	865,287
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	458,689	425,678
Net property, plant and equipment	448,017	439,609
Goodwill	322,350	314,847
Other intangible assets	182,740	185,535
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts		21,144
Other assets	58,420	35,382
Total assets	2,223,280	2,090,743
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	272	238
Notes payable to banks	11,415	8,824
Accounts payable	237,688	179,814
Accrued expenses	141,268	153,686
Dividends payable	4,757	4,352
Total current liabilities	395,400	346,914
Deferred income taxes	86,606	89,922
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	489,130	468,596
Other noncurrent liabilities	176,317	175,184
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	27,900	27,900
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Retained earnings	927,712	850,269
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	91,259	63,645
Treasury stock	(25,288)	(25,922)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,021,583	915,892
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	54,244	94,235
Total shareholders' equity	1,075,827	1,010,127	879,254	808,307
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,223,280	2,090,743
Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	8,269	8,015	17,537	82,017
Receivables, net	122,808	106,181
Inventories	105,230	63,887
Prepaid expenses	4,748	3,478
Refundable and deferred income taxes	15,971	14,978
Total current assets	257,026	196,539
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	416,545	413,149
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	277,747	269,831
Net property, plant and equipment	138,798	143,318
Goodwill	20,108	20,108
Other intangible assets	742	823
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	1,245,517	1,146,364
Other assets	29,584	24,426
Total assets	1,691,775	1,531,578
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	187	187
Accounts payable	73,698	45,854
Accrued expenses	56,903	54,368
Dividends payable	4,757	4,352
Total current liabilities	135,545	104,761
Deferred income taxes	16,687	16,083
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	488,094	467,511
Other noncurrent liabilities	29,866	27,331
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	27,900	27,900
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Retained earnings	927,712	850,269
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	91,259	63,645
Treasury stock	(25,288)	(25,922)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,021,583	915,892
Total shareholders' equity	1,021,583	915,892
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,691,775	1,531,578
Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	481	619	21,230	1,666
Receivables, net	47,872	50,663
Inventories	47,349	32,030
Prepaid expenses	977	920
Refundable and deferred income taxes	3,662	2,597
Total current assets	100,341	86,829
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	104,750	98,019
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	52,703	50,406
Net property, plant and equipment	52,047	47,613
Goodwill	107,542	107,542
Other intangible assets	65,334	68,310
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	604,337	587,231
Total assets	929,601	897,525
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	18,304	15,254
Accrued expenses	8,983	8,147
Total current liabilities	27,287	23,401
Deferred income taxes	25,101	25,004
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	457,950	457,950
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Additional paid-in capital	181,542	181,542
Retained earnings	237,721	209,628
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	877,213	849,120
Total shareholders' equity	877,213	849,120
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	929,601	897,525
Non-Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	318,040	338,270	275,606	97,103
Receivables, net	282,386	253,722
Inventories	213,606	184,306
Prepaid expenses	25,137	19,408
Refundable and deferred income taxes	15,217	15,152
Total current assets	854,386	810,858
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	385,411	354,119
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	128,239	105,441
Net property, plant and equipment	257,172	248,678
Goodwill	194,700	187,197
Other intangible assets	116,664	116,402
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	(7,420)	30,017
Other assets	28,836	10,956
Total assets	1,444,338	1,404,108
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	85	51
Notes payable to banks	11,415	8,824
Accounts payable	145,686	118,706
Accrued expenses	75,382	91,171
Total current liabilities	232,568	218,752
Deferred income taxes	44,818	48,835
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	1,036	1,085
Other noncurrent liabilities	146,451	147,853
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	2,582	2,582
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Additional paid-in capital	156,188	156,188
Retained earnings	709,050	670,933
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	97,401	63,645
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	965,221	893,348
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	54,244	94,235
Total shareholders' equity	1,019,465	987,583
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,444,338	1,404,108
Eliminations
Current assets:
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	(1,842,434)	(1,742,468)
Total assets	(1,842,434)	(1,742,468)
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	(460,532)	(460,532)
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Additional paid-in capital	(337,730)	(337,730)
Retained earnings	(946,771)	(880,561)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(97,401)	(63,645)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,842,434)	(1,742,468)
Total shareholders' equity	(1,842,434)	(1,742,468)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (1,842,434)	$ (1,742,468)