CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
Product sales	$ 681,043	$ 740,447
Services sales	70,697	79,183
Net sales	751,740	819,630
Product cost of sales	497,843	529,161
Services cost of sales	46,915	55,100
Total cost of sales	544,758	584,261
Gross profit	206,982	235,369
Selling, general and administrative expenses	108,134	117,179
Operating income	98,848	118,190
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense	(8,197)	(8,190)
Interest income	1,739	1,353
Other	(5,812)	1,556
Total other income (expenses)	(12,270)	(5,281)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	86,578	112,909
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	32,938	38,660
Deferred	(2,923)	(3,687)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	30,015	34,973
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	56,563	77,936
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries		204
Net earnings	56,563	78,140
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(583)	(571)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ 55,980	$ 77,569
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.10	$ 2.92
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.08	$ 2.89
Cash dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.250	$ 0.225
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding-Basic (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,715	26,583
Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding-Diluted (000 omitted) (in shares)	26,950	26,859