CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Comprehensive Income [Member]
Balance at Dec. 27, 2008		$ 401	$ 262,378	$ 550,501	$ (48,113)	$ (64,484)	$ 24,582
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2008		40,092,000				2,949,000
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(1,295)			10,440
Stock-based compensation expense			2,633
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options			203
Write-off of excess tax benefits arising from the exercise of stock options			(353)
Issuance of restricted stock			(1,400)			1,400
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	4,675			4,675
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(14,958)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation					13,278		28
Net change with respect to derivative instruments and hedging activities, net of tax					4,097		1,952
Net actuarial loss on pension and postretirement obligations, net of tax of $4,786, $1,631, and $2,138					(5,655)
Other, net					289
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.					12,009
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(477,000)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)						34,000
Repurchase of common stock						(870)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(64,000)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	662						662
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	1,449						(1,449)
Comprehensive income:
Consolidated net income	5,337							5,337
Consolidated other comprehensive (loss) income								13,989
Consolidated comprehensive income								19,326
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest								(2,642)
Comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.								16,684
Balance at Dec. 26, 2009		401	262,166	540,218	(36,104)	(53,514)	25,775
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 26, 2009		40,092,000				2,442,000
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(394)			3,240
Stock-based compensation expense			2,877
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options			145
Write-off of excess tax benefits arising from the exercise of stock options			0
Issuance of restricted stock			(1,561)			1,561
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	86,171			86,171
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(15,110)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation	(9,480)				(977)		763
Net change with respect to derivative instruments and hedging activities, net of tax	566				376		0
Net actuarial loss on pension and postretirement obligations, net of tax of $4,786, $1,631, and $2,138					(402)
Other, net					61
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.					(942)
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(149,000)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)						15,000
Repurchase of common stock						(418)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(71,000)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	1,364						1,364
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	741						(741)
Comprehensive income:
Consolidated net income	87,535							87,535
Consolidated other comprehensive (loss) income								(180)
Consolidated comprehensive income								87,355
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest								(2,127)
Comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.								85,228
Balance at Dec. 25, 2010	815,897	401	263,233	611,279	(37,046)	(49,131)	27,161
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 25, 2010		40,092,000				2,237,000
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			2,340			10,637
Stock-based compensation expense			3,482
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options			853
Write-off of excess tax benefits arising from the exercise of stock options			0
Issuance of restricted stock			(2,972)			2,972
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	86,321			86,321
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(15,220)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation	(10,396)				(916)		1,148
Net change with respect to derivative instruments and hedging activities, net of tax	(422)				(988)		0
Net actuarial loss on pension and postretirement obligations, net of tax of $4,786, $1,631, and $2,138					(10,378)
Other, net					(81)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.					(12,363)
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(464,000)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)	2,400,000					214,000
Repurchase of common stock						(9,098)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(132,000)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	765						765
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0						0
Comprehensive income:
Consolidated net income	87,086							87,086
Consolidated other comprehensive (loss) income								(11,215)
Consolidated comprehensive income								75,871
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest								(1,913)
Comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.								73,958
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 884,762	$ 401	$ 266,936	$ 682,380	$ (49,409)	$ (44,620)	$ 29,074
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		40,092,000				1,855,000