CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 29, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Product sales	$ 794,341	$ 688,693	$ 1,534,788	$ 1,330,680
Services sales	84,318	78,622	163,501	153,985
Net sales	878,659	767,315	1,698,289	1,484,665
Product cost of sales	563,306	519,438	1,092,467	1,002,146
Services cost of sales	53,882	48,482	108,982	96,810
Total cost of sales	617,188	567,920	1,201,449	1,098,956
Gross profit	261,471	199,395	496,840	385,709
Selling, general and administrative expenses	117,206	102,043	234,385	205,539
Operating income	144,265	97,352	262,455	180,170
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(8,025)	(7,421)	(16,215)	(15,228)
Interest income	1,852	1,910	3,205	3,988
Other	123	(1,977)	1,679	(400)
Total other income (expenses)	(6,050)	(7,488)	(11,331)	(11,640)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	138,215	89,864	251,124	168,530
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	48,210	35,985	86,870	63,014
Deferred	(1,042)	(5,193)	(4,729)	(4,456)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	47,168	30,792	82,141	58,558
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	91,047	59,072	168,983	109,972
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	269	2,087	473	3,775
Net earnings	91,316	61,159	169,456	113,747
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,753)	(1,179)	(2,324)	(1,442)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 89,563	$ 59,980	$ 167,132	$ 112,305
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.36	$ 2.27	$ 6.28	$ 4.25
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.33	$ 2.24	$ 6.22	$ 4.20
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.250	$ 0.225	$ 0.475	$ 0.405
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,648	26,467	26,615	26,432
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,910	26,758	26,884	26,718