CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Product sales	$ 2,976,359	$ 2,721,512	$ 2,353,470
Services sales	327,852	308,029	308,010
Net sales	3,304,211	3,029,541	2,661,480
Product cost of sales	2,144,942	2,032,030	1,788,908
Services cost of sales	214,041	195,055	205,762
Total cost of sales	2,358,983	2,227,085	1,994,670
Gross profit	945,228	802,456	666,810
Selling, general and administrative expenses	472,159	420,160	403,500
Operating income	473,069	382,296	263,310
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(32,502)	(31,625)	(36,175)
Interest income	6,477	8,272	9,265
Other	2,373	347	(2,643)
Total other income (expenses)	(23,652)	(23,006)	(29,553)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	449,417	359,290	233,757
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	167,922	122,782	89,552
Deferred	(10,141)	3,720	(84,962)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	157,781	126,502	4,590
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	291,636	232,788	229,167
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	835	6,128	8,059
Loss from deconsolidation of subsidiary	(12,011)
Net earnings	280,460	238,916	237,226
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,971)	(4,844)	(8,918)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 278,489	$ 234,072	$ 228,308
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 10.45	$ 8.84	$ 8.67
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 10.35	$ 8.75	$ 8.60
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.975	$ 0.855	$ 0.705