CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 526,885	$ 514,162
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,711 in 2012 and $1,564 in 2011	315,346	250,027
Inventories	236,310	219,193
Current deferred income taxes	21,146	21,104
Other current assets	22,533	22,213
Total current assets	1,122,220	1,026,699
Property, plant, and equipment, net	206,719	203,744
Goodwill	102,250	102,250
Other assets	14,773	14,911
Total Assets	1,445,962	1,347,604
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	42,590	41,265
Accounts payable	97,836	65,545
Accrued wages and other employee costs	28,031	39,319
Other current liabilities	107,347	67,115
Total current liabilities	275,804	213,244
Long-term debt, less current portion	156,226	156,476
Pension liabilities	32,770	32,839
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	21,597	21,405
Environmental reserves	22,771	22,892
Deferred income taxes	13,187	14,856
Other noncurrent liabilities	889	1,130
Total liabilities	523,244	462,842
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 38,247,828 in 2012 and 38,236,568 in 2011	401	401
Additional paid-in capital	267,957	266,936
Retained earnings	711,154	682,380
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(41,798)	(49,409)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(44,649)	(44,620)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	893,065	855,688
Noncontrolling interest	29,653	29,074
Total equity	922,718	884,762
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,445,962	$ 1,347,604