-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TmzZ6liaV4pPrzctlgN8h5Aq+MR2W7ORx9bUNOtgDw78io/rQecc17QVT4Fl1lZW
 OxRfGa4h4xy1fAYqBMifTw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000089439-10-000056.txt : 20100723
<SEC-HEADER>0000089439-10-000056.hdr.sgml : 20100723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100723173457
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000089439-10-000056
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100723
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100723
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100723

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROURKE JAMES H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276798

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06770
		FILM NUMBER:		10968139

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8353 COLONY DR
		CITY:			CLAY TOWNSHIP
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48001

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MUELLER INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000089439
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ROLLING DRAWING & EXTRUDING OF NONFERROUS METALS [3350]
		IRS NUMBER:				250790410
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1227

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUITE 150
		STREET 2:		8285 TOURNAMENT DRIVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38125
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(901)753-3200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUITE 150
		STREET 2:		8285 TOURNAMENT DRIVE
		CITY:			MEMPHIS
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			38125

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SHARON STEEL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910103
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-07-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000089439</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MUELLER INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>mli</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276798</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ROURKE JAMES H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8353 COLONY DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLAY TOWNSHIP</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President - IPD</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-07-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46945</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares vest in 20% increments annually beginning 7/23/2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anthony Steinriede, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-07-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----