Note 1 - Description of Business	12 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2013
Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]
Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]	(1) Description of Business Insteel Industries, Inc. (“Insteel” or “the Company”) is the nation’s largest manufacturer 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 prestressed concrete 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. On November 19, 2010, the Company purchased certain assets and assumed certain 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. 28, 2013

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

(1) Description of Business

Insteel Industries, Inc. (“Insteel” or “the Company”) is the nation’s largest manufacturer 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 prestressed concrete 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.

On November 19, 2010, the Company purchased certain assets and assumed certain 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.