CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 29, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Product sales	$ 693,480	$ 652,822	$ 2,228,268	$ 1,983,502
Services sales	84,552	77,017	248,053	231,002
Net sales	778,032	729,839	2,476,321	2,214,504
Product cost of sales	499,190	488,739	1,591,657	1,490,885
Services cost of sales	53,278	48,698	162,260	145,508
Total cost of sales	552,468	537,437	1,753,917	1,636,393
Gross profit	225,564	192,402	722,404	578,111
Selling, general and administrative expenses	115,663	102,020	350,048	307,559
Operating income	109,901	90,382	372,356	270,552
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(8,149)	(8,429)	(24,364)	(23,657)
Interest income	1,560	2,093	4,765	6,081
Other	(584)	1,307	1,095	907
Total other income (expenses)	(7,173)	(5,029)	(18,504)	(16,669)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	102,728	85,353	353,852	253,883
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	40,458	27,928	127,328	90,942
Deferred	3,454	519	(1,275)	(3,937)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	43,912	28,447	126,053	87,005
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	58,816	56,906	227,799	166,878
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	75	1,536	548	5,311
Net earnings	58,891	58,442	228,347	172,189
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,402)	(1,711)	(4,726)	(3,153)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 56,489	$ 56,731	$ 223,621	$ 169,036
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.12	$ 2.14	$ 8.40	$ 6.39
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.10	$ 2.12	$ 8.31	$ 6.32
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.250	$ 0.225	$ 0.725	$ 0.630
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,665	26,502	26,632	26,455
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,919	26,806	26,896	26,748