Note 1 - Description of Business	12 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2012
Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]	(1) Description of Business Insteel Industries, Inc. (“Insteel” or “the Company”) is one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of steel wire reinforcing products for concrete construction applications. Insteel is the parent holding company for two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Insteel Wire Products Company (“IWP”), an operating subsidiary, and Intercontinental Metals Corporation, an inactive subsidiary. The Company manufactures and markets PC strand and welded wire reinforcement, including engineered structural mesh, concrete pipe reinforcement and standard welded wire reinforcement. The Company’s products are primarily sold to manufacturers of concrete products and, to a lesser extent, distributors and rebar fabricators that are located nationwide as well as in Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America. In 2006, the Company exited the industrial wire business in order to narrow its strategic and operational focus to concrete reinforcing products (see Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements). The results of operations for the industrial wire business have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented. On November 19, 2010, the Company purchased certain of the assets and assumed certain of the liabilities of Ivy Steel and Wire, Inc. (“Ivy”) (see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements). The Company has evaluated all subsequent events that occurred after the balance sheet date through the time of filing this Annual Report on Form 10-K and concluded there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that required additional recognition or disclosure in its financial statements.

Note 1 - Description of Business

12 Months Ended

Sep. 29, 2012

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

(1) Description of Business

Insteel Industries, Inc. (“Insteel” or “the Company”) is one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of steel wire reinforcing products for concrete construction applications. Insteel is the parent holding company for two wholly-owned subsidiaries, Insteel Wire Products Company (“IWP”), an operating subsidiary, and Intercontinental Metals Corporation, an inactive subsidiary. The Company manufactures and markets PC strand and welded wire reinforcement, including engineered structural mesh, concrete pipe reinforcement and standard welded wire reinforcement. The Company’s products are primarily sold to manufacturers of concrete products and, to a lesser extent, distributors and rebar fabricators that are located nationwide as well as in Canada, Mexico, and Central and South America.

In 2006, the Company exited the industrial wire business in order to narrow its strategic and operational focus to concrete reinforcing products (see Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements). The results of operations for the industrial wire business have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

On November 19, 2010, the Company purchased certain of the assets and assumed certain of the liabilities of Ivy Steel and Wire, Inc. (“Ivy”) (see Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements).

The Company has evaluated all subsequent events that occurred after the balance sheet date through the time of filing this Annual Report on Form 10-K and concluded there were no events or transactions occurring during this period that required additional recognition or disclosure in its financial statements.