CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands	Oct. 01, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 448,853	$ 394,139
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,807 in 2011 and $5,447 in 2010	315,709	269,258
Inventories	214,868	209,892
Current deferred income taxes	19,303	19,227
Other current assets	34,063	19,798
Total current assets	1,032,796	912,314
Property, plant, and equipment, net	207,761	229,498
Goodwill	102,250	102,250
Other assets	16,103	14,934
Total Assets	1,358,910	1,258,996
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	52,827	32,020
Accounts payable	65,743	67,849
Accrued wages and other employee costs	35,257	33,338
Other current liabilities	78,566	61,920
Total current liabilities	232,393	195,127
Long-term debt, less current portion	156,726	158,226
Pension liabilities	16,545	18,249
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	23,104	22,690
Environmental reserves	23,111	23,902
Deferred income taxes	19,788	24,081
Other noncurrent liabilities	2,187	824
Total liabilities	473,854	443,099
Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - $1.00 par value; shares authorized 5,000,000; none outstanding	0	0
Common stock - $.01 par value; shares authorized 100,000,000; issued 40,091,502; outstanding 38,221,076 in 2011 and 37,854,760 in 2010	401	401
Additional paid-in capital	265,830	263,233
Retained earnings	673,276	611,279
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(38,714)	(37,046)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(44,604)	(49,131)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	856,189	788,736
Noncontrolling interest	28,867	27,161
Total equity	885,056	815,897
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,358,910	$ 1,258,996