CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010	Dec. 26, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,417,797	$ 2,059,797	$ 1,547,225
Cost of goods sold	2,115,677	1,774,811	1,327,022
Depreciation and amortization	36,865	40,364	41,568
Selling, general, and administrative expense	135,953	131,211	116,660
Litigation settlement	(10,500)	0	0
Insurance settlements	0	(22,736)	0
Impairment charges	0	0	29,755
Operating income	139,802	136,147	32,220
Interest expense	(11,553)	(11,647)	(9,963)
Other income (expense), net	1,912	(2,650)	872
Income before income taxes	130,161	121,850	23,129
Income tax expense	(43,075)	(34,315)	(17,792)
Consolidated net income	87,086	87,535	5,337
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(765)	(1,364)	(662)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 86,321	$ 86,171	$ 4,675
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	37,835	37,672	37,336
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	361	97	88
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	38,196	37,769	37,424
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.28	$ 2.29	$ 0.13
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.26	$ 2.28	$ 0.12
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.40	$ 0.40