GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 28, 2013
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the Guarantor subsidiaries and the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	$ 765,668	$ 778,032	$ 2,360,007	$ 2,476,321
Cost of sales	566,168	552,468	1,733,048	1,753,917
Gross profit	199,500	225,564	626,959	722,404
Selling, general and administrative expenses	111,697	115,663	335,532	350,048
Operating income	87,803	109,901	291,427	372,356
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(8,716)	(8,149)	(25,217)	(24,364)
Interest income	1,477	1,560	4,793	4,765
Costs associated with refinancing of debt	(38,705)		(38,705)
Other	(2,344)	(584)	(6,253)	1,095
Total other income (expenses)	(48,288)	(7,173)	(65,382)	(18,504)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	39,515	102,728	226,045	353,852
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	23,290	40,458	82,345	127,328
Deferred	(9,064)	3,454	(4,034)	(1,275)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	14,226	43,912	78,311	126,053
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	25,289	58,816	147,734	227,799
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(4)	75	(34)	548
Net earnings	25,285	58,891	147,700	228,347
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,726)	(2,402)	(4,185)	(4,726)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	23,559	56,489	143,515	223,621
Parent
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the Guarantor subsidiaries and the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	313,775	331,525	1,069,059	1,174,955
Cost of sales	234,085	238,692	785,898	837,321
Gross profit	79,690	92,833	283,161	337,634
Selling, general and administrative expenses	48,560	51,621	146,514	157,367
Operating income	31,130	41,212	136,647	180,267
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(8,061)	(7,724)	(23,427)	(23,115)
Interest income	2	18	28	33
Costs associated with refinancing of debt	(38,705)		(38,705)
Other	(196)	1,422	1,625	3,224
Total other income (expenses)	(46,960)	(6,284)	(60,479)	(19,858)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(15,830)	34,928	76,168	160,409
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	9,296	19,473	38,489	65,472
Deferred	(12,430)	(4,969)	(6,601)	(7,473)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(3,134)	14,504	31,888	57,999
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(12,696)	20,424	44,280	102,410
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	36,255	36,065	99,235	121,211
Net earnings	23,559	56,489	143,515	223,621
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	23,559	56,489	143,515	223,621
Guarantors
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the Guarantor subsidiaries and the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	120,016	161,432	380,327	501,308
Cost of sales	92,091	121,870	283,443	377,158
Gross profit	27,925	39,562	96,884	124,150
Selling, general and administrative expenses	12,145	14,530	37,806	42,871
Operating income	15,780	25,032	59,078	81,279
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(11,288)	(11,122)	(33,505)	(35,696)
Interest income	161	242	496	732
Other	(149)	9	(501)	55
Total other income (expenses)	(11,276)	(10,871)	(33,510)	(34,909)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	4,504	14,161	25,568	46,370
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	3,600	7,419	11,813	20,801
Deferred	(342)	(360)	1,325	1,342
Total income tax expense (benefit)	3,258	7,059	13,138	22,143
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	1,246	7,102	12,430	24,227
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	17,026	6,542	42,929	48,927
Net earnings	18,272	13,644	55,359	73,154
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	18,272	13,644	55,359	73,154
Non-Guarantors
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the Guarantor subsidiaries and the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	384,564	366,522	1,072,560	1,052,733
Cost of sales	292,722	273,317	826,120	795,182
Gross profit	91,842	93,205	246,440	257,551
Selling, general and administrative expenses	50,992	49,512	151,212	149,810
Operating income	40,850	43,693	95,228	107,741
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(655)	(425)	(1,790)	(1,249)
Interest income	12,602	12,422	37,774	39,696
Other	(1,999)	(2,015)	(7,377)	(2,184)
Total other income (expenses)	9,948	9,982	28,607	36,263
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	50,798	53,675	123,835	144,004
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	10,397	13,631	31,914	40,283
Deferred	3,708	8,783	1,242	4,856
Total income tax expense (benefit)	14,105	22,414	33,156	45,139
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	36,693	31,261	90,679	98,865
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries				207
Net earnings	36,693	31,261	90,679	99,072
Less: Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,726)	(2,402)	(4,185)	(4,726)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	34,967	28,859	86,494	94,346
Eliminations
Condensed consolidated financial information for the Company (Parent), the Guarantor subsidiaries and the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries
Net sales	(52,687)	(81,447)	(161,939)	(252,675)
Cost of sales	(52,730)	(81,411)	(162,413)	(255,744)
Gross profit	43	(36)	474	3,069
Operating income	43	(36)	474	3,069
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	11,288	11,122	33,505	35,696
Interest income	(11,288)	(11,122)	(33,505)	(35,696)
Earnings before income taxes and equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	43	(36)	474	3,069
Income tax expense (benefit):
Current	(3)	(65)	129	772
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(3)	(65)	129	772
Earnings before equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	46	29	345	2,297
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(53,285)	(42,532)	(142,197)	(169,797)
Net earnings	(53,239)	(42,503)	(141,853)	(167,500)
Net earnings attributable to Valmont Industries, Inc.	$ (53,239)	$ (42,503)	$ (141,853)	$ (167,500)