CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Product sales	$ 740,447	$ 641,987
Services sales	79,183	75,363
Net sales	819,630	717,350
Product cost of sales	529,161	482,708
Services cost of sales	55,100	48,328
Total cost of sales	584,261	531,036
Gross profit	235,369	186,314
Selling, general and administrative expenses	117,179	103,496
Operating income	118,190	82,818
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(8,190)	(7,807)
Interest income	1,353	2,078
Other	1,556	1,577
Total other income (expenses)	(5,281)	(4,152)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	112,909	78,666
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	38,660	27,029
Deferred	(3,687)	737
Total income tax expense (benefit)	34,973	27,766
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	77,936	50,900
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	204	1,688
Net earnings	78,140	52,588
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(571)	(263)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 77,569	$ 52,325
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.92	$ 1.98
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.89	$ 1.96
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.225	$ 0.180
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding-Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,583	26,396
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding-Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,859	26,678