CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 373,680	$ 514,162
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,413 in 2012 and $1,564 in 2011	299,264	250,027
Inventories	229,338	219,193
Current deferred income taxes	21,463	21,104
Other current assets	20,305	22,213
Total current assets	944,050	1,026,699
Property, plant, and equipment, net	212,035	203,744
Goodwill	102,250	102,250
Other assets	14,105	14,911
Total Assets	1,272,440	1,347,604
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	25,715	41,265
Accounts payable	89,914	65,545
Accrued wages and other employee costs	32,886	39,319
Other current liabilities	91,871	67,115
Total current liabilities	240,386	213,244
Long-term debt, less current portion	7,800	156,476
Pension liabilities	31,821	32,839
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	21,341	21,405
Environmental reserves	22,600	22,892
Deferred income taxes	13,079	14,856
Other noncurrent liabilities	966	1,130
Total liabilities	337,993	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 38,266,097 in 2012 and 38,236,568 in 2011	401	401
Additional paid-in capital	269,105	266,936
Retained earnings	725,244	682,380
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(45,950)	(49,409)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(44,457)	(44,620)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	904,343	855,688
Noncontrolling interest	30,104	29,074
Total equity	934,447	884,762
Commitments and contingencies
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,272,440	$ 1,347,604