CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jul. 02, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jul. 02, 2011
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 594,099	$ 652,923	$ 1,171,767	$ 1,340,604
Cost of goods sold	522,851	573,877	1,016,026	1,163,751
Depreciation and amortization	7,919	9,166	15,448	18,865
Selling, general, and administrative expense	33,487	33,330	65,089	68,699
Insurance settlement	0	0	(1,500)	0
Litigation settlement	0	0	0	(10,500)
Operating income	29,842	36,550	76,704	99,789
Interest expense	(2,721)	(2,834)	(5,358)	(6,182)
Other income, net	490	264	744	1,323
Income before income taxes	27,611	33,980	72,090	94,930
Income tax expense	(9,071)	(11,249)	(20,733)	(31,657)
Consolidated net income	18,540	22,731	51,357	63,273
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(623)	(400)	(841)	(355)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 17,917	$ 22,331	$ 50,516	$ 62,918
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	38,029	37,737	38,021	37,730
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	436	356	440	309
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	38,465	38,093	38,461	38,039
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.59	$ 1.33	$ 1.67
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ 0.59	$ 1.31	$ 1.65
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.20	$ 0.20