CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Product sales	$ 2,721,512	$ 2,353,470	$ 1,737,940
Services sales	308,029	308,010	237,565
Net sales	3,029,541	2,661,480	1,975,505
Product cost of sales	2,032,030	1,788,908	1,290,446
Services cost of sales	195,055	205,762	165,485
Total cost of sales	2,227,085	1,994,670	1,455,931
Gross profit	802,456	666,810	519,574
Selling, general and administrative expenses	420,160	403,500	341,161
Operating income	382,296	263,310	178,413
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(31,625)	(36,175)	(30,947)
Interest income	8,272	9,265	4,840
Other	347	(2,643)	676
Total other income (expenses)	(23,006)	(29,553)	(25,431)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	359,290	233,757	152,982
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	122,782	89,552	49,991
Deferred	3,720	(84,962)	5,017
Total income tax expense (benefit)	126,502	4,590	55,008
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	232,788	229,167	97,974
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	6,128	8,059	2,439
Net earnings	238,916	237,226	100,413
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,844)	(8,918)	(6,034)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 234,072	$ 228,308	$ 94,379
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 8.84	$ 8.67	$ 3.62
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 8.75	$ 8.60	$ 3.57
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.855	$ 0.705	$ 0.645