CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010	Dec. 26, 2009
Operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 87,086	$ 87,535	$ 5,337
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	35,966	39,656	40,867
Amortization of intangibles	899	708	701
Amortization of financing costs	397	288	190
Stock-based compensation expense	3,482	2,877	2,633
Insurance settlements	0	(22,736)	0
Insurance proceeds - noncapital related	10,000	5,561	7,338
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	(853)	(145)	(203)
Impairment charges	0	0	29,755
Deferred income taxes	(4,190)	(6,627)	(2,554)
Doubtful accounts receivable	(229)	4,763	506
Gain on early retirement of debt	0	0	(128)
(Gain) loss on disposal of properties	(202)	756	683
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired:
Receivables	28,716	(46,494)	(6,988)
Inventories	(15,678)	(17,248)	22,699
Other assets	460	2,974	(505)
Current liabilities	7,966	4,913	(21,161)
Other liabilities	(1,593)	(623)	(1,808)
Other, net	1,522	199	26
Net cash provided by operating activities	153,749	56,357	77,388
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(18,751)	(18,678)	(13,942)
Acquisition of businesses	(6,882)	(2,021)	0
Proceeds from sales of properties	1,984	71	611
Net (deposits into) withdrawals from restricted cash balances	(3,055)	(156)	7,013
Insurance proceeds	0	18,798	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(26,704)	(1,986)	(6,318)
Financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(750)	0	(370)
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(15,146)	(15,074)	(14,944)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0	(741)	(1,449)
Issuance of debt by joint venture, net	6,162	6,848	131
Net proceeds from the exercise of stock options	3,880	2,428	8,275
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	853	145	203
Debt issuance costs	(1,943)	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(6,944)	(6,394)	(8,154)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(78)	161	4,225
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	120,023	48,138	67,141
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	394,139	346,001	278,860
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	$ 514,162	$ 394,139	$ 346,001