GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	$ 751,740	$ 819,630
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 (expense):
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
Parent
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	376,642	416,613
Cost of sales	271,759	300,680
Gross profit	104,883	115,933
Selling, general and administrative expenses	47,790	50,026
Operating income	57,093	65,907
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(7,675)	(7,755)
Interest income	20	7
Other	67	1,408
Total other income (expenses)	(7,588)	(6,340)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	49,505	59,567
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	19,878	21,175
Deferred	(1,843)	(1,754)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	18,035	19,421
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	31,470	40,146
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	24,510	37,423
Net earnings	55,980	77,569
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	55,980	77,569
Guarantors
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	135,897	170,849
Cost of sales	99,816	128,998
Gross profit	36,081	41,851
Selling, general and administrative expenses	12,991	13,994
Operating income	23,090	27,857
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(10,880)	(12,630)
Interest income	183	253
Other	(492)	15
Total other income (expenses)	(11,189)	(12,362)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	11,901	15,495
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	5,587	6,836
Deferred	(412)	303
Total income tax expense (benefit)	5,175	7,139
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	6,726	8,356
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	8,939	19,151
Net earnings	15,665	27,507
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	15,665	27,507
Non-Guarantors
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	300,281	325,409
Cost of sales	234,634	248,383
Gross profit	65,647	77,026
Selling, general and administrative expenses	47,353	53,159
Operating income	18,294	23,867
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(522)	(434)
Interest income	12,416	13,722
Other	(5,387)	133
Total other income (expenses)	6,507	13,421
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	24,801	37,288
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	7,369	10,470
Deferred	(668)	(2,236)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	6,701	8,234
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	18,100	29,054
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries		207
Net earnings	18,100	29,261
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(583)	(571)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	17,517	28,690
Eliminations
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the guarantor subsidiaries and the non-guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	(61,080)	(93,241)
Cost of sales	(61,451)	(93,800)
Gross profit	371	559
Operating income	371	559
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	10,880	12,629
Interest income	(10,880)	(12,629)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	371	559
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	104	179
Total income tax expense (benefit)	104	179
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	267	380
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(33,449)	(56,577)
Net earnings	(33,182)	(56,197)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ (33,182)	$ (56,197)