CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 514,162	$ 394,139
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,564 in 2011 and $5,447 in 2010	250,027	269,258
Inventories	219,193	209,892
Current deferred income taxes	21,104	19,227
Other current assets	22,213	19,798
Total current assets	1,026,699	912,314
Property, plant, and equipment, net	203,744	229,498
Goodwill, net	102,250	102,250
Other assets	14,911	14,934
Total Assets	1,347,604	1,258,996
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	41,265	32,020
Accounts payable	65,545	67,849
Accrued wages and other employee costs	39,319	33,338
Other current liabilities	67,115	61,920
Total current liabilities	213,244	195,127
Long-term debt, less current portion	156,476	158,226
Pension liabilities	32,839	18,249
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	21,405	22,690
Environmental reserves	22,892	23,902
Deferred income taxes	14,856	24,081
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,130	824
Total liabilities	462,842	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 38,236,568 in 2011 and 37,854,760 in 2010	401	401
Additional paid-in capital	266,936	263,233
Retained earnings	682,380	611,279
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(49,409)	(37,046)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(44,620)	(49,131)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	855,688	788,736
Noncontrolling interest	29,074	27,161
Total equity	884,762	815,897
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,347,604	$ 1,258,996