GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 27, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014	Jun. 28, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 317,523	$ 371,579	$ 455,927	$ 613,706
Receivables, net	491,706	536,918
Inventories	379,897	359,522
Prepaid expenses	56,653	56,912
Refundable and deferred income taxes	44,072	68,010
Total current assets	1,289,851	1,392,941
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	1,123,885	1,139,569
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	552,908	533,116
Net property, plant and equipment	570,977	606,453
Goodwill	380,086	385,111
Other intangible assets	189,892	202,004
Other assets	136,586	143,159
Total assets	2,567,392	2,729,668
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	1,096	1,181
Notes payable to banks	7,914	13,952
Accounts payable	186,421	196,565
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	75,155	87,950
Accrued expenses	89,983	88,480
Dividends payable	8,733	9,086
Total current liabilities	369,302	397,214
Deferred income taxes	62,959	71,797
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	765,272	766,654
Defined benefit pension liability	135,068	150,124
Deferred compensation	51,056	47,932
Other noncurrent liabilities	43,142	45,542
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	27,900	27,900
Retained earnings	1,762,534	1,718,662
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(171,508)	(134,433)
Treasury stock	(525,877)	(410,296)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,093,049	1,201,833
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	47,544	48,572
Total shareholders' equity	1,140,593	1,250,405	1,615,090	1,544,846
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,567,392	2,729,668
Parent
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	12,453	69,869	63,127	215,576
Receivables, net	146,163	158,316
Inventories	133,029	127,859
Prepaid expenses	6,782	7,087
Refundable and deferred income taxes	29,974	53,307
Total current assets	328,401	416,438
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	561,190	556,658
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	334,149	319,899
Net property, plant and equipment	227,041	236,759
Goodwill	20,108	20,108
Other intangible assets	265	292
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	1,405,594	1,446,989
Other assets	49,438	46,587
Total assets	2,030,847	2,167,173
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	215	213
Accounts payable	51,355	59,893
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	33,728	48,169
Accrued expenses	32,928	32,616
Dividends payable	8,733	9,086
Total current liabilities	126,959	149,977
Deferred income taxes	1,085	5,584
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	759,251	759,895
Deferred compensation	45,231	41,803
Other noncurrent liabilities	5,272	8,081
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	27,900	27,900
Retained earnings	1,762,534	1,718,662
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(171,508)	(134,433)
Treasury stock	(525,877)	(410,296)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,093,049	1,201,833
Total shareholders' equity	1,093,049	1,201,833
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,030,847	2,167,173
Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,800	2,157	27,758	29,797
Receivables, net	54,606	68,414
Inventories	51,821	54,914
Prepaid expenses	662	502
Refundable and deferred income taxes	6,089	6,194
Total current assets	114,978	132,181
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	125,366	124,182
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	67,516	65,493
Net property, plant and equipment	57,850	58,689
Goodwill	107,542	107,542
Other intangible assets	41,235	43,644
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	854,867	825,236
Total assets	1,176,472	1,167,292
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	15,355	15,151
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	5,209	5,385
Accrued expenses	6,182	6,052
Total current liabilities	26,746	26,588
Deferred income taxes	28,299	28,988
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	457,950	457,950
Additional paid-in capital	150,286	150,286
Retained earnings	571,199	552,676
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(58,008)	(49,196)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,121,427	1,111,716
Total shareholders' equity	1,121,427	1,111,716
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,176,472	1,167,292
Non-Guarantors
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	303,270	299,553	$ 365,042	$ 368,333
Receivables, net	290,937	310,188
Inventories	198,598	177,512
Prepaid expenses	49,209	49,323
Refundable and deferred income taxes	8,009	8,509
Total current assets	850,023	845,085
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	437,329	458,729
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	151,243	147,724
Net property, plant and equipment	286,086	311,005
Goodwill	252,436	257,461
Other intangible assets	148,392	158,068
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	899,268	887,055
Other assets	87,148	96,572
Total assets	2,523,353	2,555,246
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt	881	968
Notes payable to banks	7,914	13,952
Accounts payable	119,711	121,521
Accrued employee compensation and benefits	36,218	34,396
Accrued expenses	50,873	49,812
Total current liabilities	215,597	220,649
Deferred income taxes	33,575	37,225
Long-term debt, excluding current installments	6,021	6,759
Defined benefit pension liability	135,068	150,124
Deferred compensation	5,825	6,129
Other noncurrent liabilities	37,870	37,461
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	648,682	648,682
Additional paid-in capital	1,098,408	1,098,408
Retained earnings	420,383	397,302
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(125,620)	(96,065)
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	2,041,853	2,048,327
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	47,544	48,572
Total shareholders' equity	2,089,397	2,096,899
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,523,353	2,555,246
Eliminations
Current assets:
Inventories	(3,551)	(763)
Total current assets	(3,551)	(763)
Investment in subsidiaries and intercompany accounts	(3,159,729)	(3,159,280)
Total assets	(3,163,280)	(3,160,043)
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock of $1 par value	(1,106,632)	(1,106,632)
Additional paid-in capital	(1,248,694)	(1,248,694)
Retained earnings	(991,582)	(949,978)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	183,628	145,261
Total Valmont Industries, Inc. shareholders' equity	(3,163,280)	(3,160,043)
Total shareholders' equity	(3,163,280)	(3,160,043)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (3,163,280)	$ (3,160,043)