CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 02, 2011	Jun. 26, 2010	Jul. 02, 2011	Jun. 26, 2010
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 652,923	$ 540,388	$ 1,340,604	$ 1,025,656
Cost of goods sold	573,877	466,645	1,163,751	879,693
Depreciation and amortization	9,166	10,090	18,865	20,438
Selling, general, and administrative expense	33,330	33,468	68,699	70,791
Insurance settlement	0	(1,210)	0	21,296
Litigation settlement	0	0	(10,500)	0
Operating income	36,550	28,975	99,789	76,030
Interest expense	(2,834)	(2,964)	(6,182)	(5,496)
Other income (expense), net	264	(2,518)	1,323	(2,378)
Income before income taxes	33,980	23,493	94,930	68,156
Income tax expense	(11,249)	(7,456)	(31,657)	(17,320)
Consolidated net income	22,731	16,037	63,273	50,836
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(400)	(479)	(355)	(1,320)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 22,331	$ 15,558	$ 62,918	$ 49,516
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share	37,737	37,674	37,730	37,631
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards	356	43	309	69
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share	38,093	37,717	38,039	37,700
Basic earnings per share	$ 0.59	$ 0.41	$ 1.67	$ 1.32
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.59	$ 0.41	$ 1.65	$ 1.31
Dividends per share	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.20	$ 0.20