GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 25, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 328,381	$ 362,894	$ 326,790	$ 346,904
Receivables, net	489,371	426,683
Inventories	441,296	393,782
Prepaid expenses	29,772	25,765
Refundable and deferred income taxes	43,999	43,819
Total current assets	1,332,819	1,252,943
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	941,725	911,642
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	476,033	456,765
Net property, plant and equipment	465,692	454,877
Goodwill	312,777	314,662
Other intangible assets	161,965	168,083
Other assets	123,496	115,511
Total assets	2,396,749	2,306,076
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	248	235
Notes payable to banks	17,374	11,403
Accounts payable	222,216	234,537
Accrued expenses	155,951	157,128
Dividends payable	5,985	4,767
Total current liabilities	401,774	408,070
Deferred income taxes	79,217	85,497
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	473,592	474,415
Other noncurrent liabilities	134,327	140,183
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	27,900	27,900
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Retained earnings	1,186,603	1,079,698
Accumulated other comprehensive income	62,587	64,052
Treasury stock	(23,316)	(24,688)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,253,774	1,146,962
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	54,065	50,949
Total shareholders' equity	1,307,839	1,197,911	1,075,827	1,010,127
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,396,749	2,306,076
Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	23,542	27,545	8,269	8,015
Receivables, net	133,821	122,409
Inventories	135,926	125,862
Prepaid expenses	4,780	3,448
Refundable and deferred income taxes	21,862	22,053
Total current assets	319,931	301,317
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	440,285	427,398
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	290,752	283,786
Net property, plant and equipment	149,533	143,612
Goodwill	20,108	20,108
Other intangible assets	580	661
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	1,395,199	1,338,299
Other assets	31,787	30,192
Total assets	1,917,138	1,834,189
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	179	187
Accounts payable	58,810	85,974
Accrued expenses	75,352	72,341
Dividends payable	5,985	4,767
Total current liabilities	140,326	163,269
Deferred income taxes	18,932	21,891
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	472,548	473,419
Other noncurrent liabilities	31,558	28,648
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	27,900	27,900
Retained earnings	1,186,603	1,079,698
Accumulated other comprehensive income	62,587	64,052
Treasury stock	(23,316)	(24,688)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,253,774	1,146,962
Total shareholders' equity	1,253,774	1,146,962
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,917,138	1,834,189
Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	40,473	18,257	481	619
Receivables, net	81,412	53,567
Inventories	84,968	77,838
Prepaid expenses	743	1,009
Refundable and deferred income taxes	5,890	6,218
Total current assets	213,486	156,889
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	112,489	107,315
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	57,311	54,740
Net property, plant and equipment	55,178	52,575
Goodwill	107,542	107,542
Other intangible assets	56,454	59,389
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	1,242,596	695,745
Total assets	1,675,256	1,072,140
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	26,823	21,428
Accrued expenses	13,032	14,259
Total current liabilities	39,855	35,687
Deferred income taxes	27,472	27,661
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	587,258
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	457,950	457,950
Additional paid-in capital	150,286	181,542
Retained earnings	415,637	370,258
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(3,202)	(958)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,020,671	1,008,792
Total shareholders' equity	1,020,671	1,008,792
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,675,256	1,072,140
Non-Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	264,366	317,092	318,040	338,270
Receivables, net	274,138	250,707
Inventories	220,402	190,082
Prepaid expenses	24,249	21,308
Refundable and deferred income taxes	16,247	15,548
Total current assets	799,402	794,737
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	388,951	376,929
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	127,970	118,239
Net property, plant and equipment	260,981	258,690
Goodwill	185,127	187,012
Other intangible assets	104,931	108,033
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	630,540	596,301
Other assets	91,709	85,319
Total assets	2,072,690	2,030,092
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	69	48
Notes payable to banks	17,374	11,403
Accounts payable	136,583	127,135
Accrued expenses	67,567	70,528
Total current liabilities	221,593	209,114
Deferred income taxes	32,813	35,945
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	1,044	996
Other noncurrent liabilities	102,769	111,535
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	254,982	254,982
Additional paid-in capital	893,274	893,884
Retained earnings	439,011	407,677
Accumulated other comprehensive income	73,139	65,010
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,660,406	1,621,553
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	54,065	50,949
Total shareholders' equity	1,714,471	1,672,502
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,072,690	2,030,092
Eliminations
Current assets:
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	(3,268,335)	(2,630,345)
Total assets	(3,268,335)	(2,630,345)
Current liabilities:
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	(587,258)
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	(712,932)	(712,932)
Additional paid-in capital	(1,043,560)	(1,075,426)
Retained earnings	(854,648)	(777,935)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(69,937)	(64,052)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	(2,681,077)	(2,630,345)
Total shareholders' equity	(2,681,077)	(2,630,345)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (3,268,335)	$ (2,630,345)