Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Note 2 - Commitments and Contingencies The Company is involved in certain litigation as a result of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business, which management believes will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company may also realize the benefit of certain legal claims and litigation in the future; these gain contingencies are not recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Extruded Metals Class Action A purported class action was filed in Michigan Circuit Court by Gaylord L. Miller, and all others similarly situated, against a subsidiary of the Company, Extruded Metals, Inc., in March 2012 under nuisance, negligence, and gross negligence theories. It is brought on behalf of all persons in the City of Belding, Michigan, whose property rights have allegedly been interfered with by fallout and/or dust and/or noxious odors, allegedly attributable to Extruded Metals' operations. Plaintiffs allege that they have suffered interference with the use and enjoyment of their properties. They seek compensatory and exemplary damages and injunctive relief. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter. At this time, the Company is unable to determine the impact, if any, that this matter will have on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Supplier Litigation On May 6, 2011, the Company and two of its subsidiaries, Mueller Streamline Co. (Mueller Streamline) and B&K Industries, Inc. (B&K)(Plaintiffs), filed a civil lawsuit in federal district court in Los Angeles, California against a former supplier, Xiamen Lota International Co., Ltd (Xiamen Lota), its U.S. sales representative (Lota USA), and certain other persons (Defendants). The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the Defendants gave Peter D. Berkman, a former executive of the Company and B&K, an undisclosed interest in Lota USA, and made payments and promises of payments to him, in return for Peter Berkman maintaining the Company as a customer, increasing purchasing levels, and acquiescing to non-competitive and excessive pricing for Xiamen Lota products. The lawsuit alleges violations of federal statutes 18 U.S.C. Sections 1962(c) and (d) (RICO claims) and California state law unfair competition. The lawsuit seeks compensatory, treble and punitive damages, and other appropriate relief including an award of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of suit. All of the foreign Defendants have been served under the Hague Convention and Xiamen Lota has withdrawn its motion contesting service of process (filed July 1, 2011). On January 4, 2012, the foreign Defendants filed a motion to dismiss all of the claims in the Company's Complaint for failure to state claims, and also joined in Lota USA's pending motion to dismiss (filed July 1, 2011). On December 16, 2011, the Court granted Lota USA's motion to disqualify the Company's counsel and the Company has retained new counsel to represent it going forward in the lawsuit. The motions to dismiss were heard on April 9, 2012, and the Court sustained Plaintiffs' unfair competition claim, and dismissed without prejudice and with leave to amend, their RICO claims. The Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on April 30, 2012. Defendants moved to dismiss on May 17, 2012. The parties await the Court's ruling. A mediation will be held August 14 and 15, 2012. The Court set a trial date for this civil matter to commence on June 18, 2013. U.K. Actions Relating To The European Commission's 2004 Copper Tubes Decision And 2006 Copper Fittings Decision Mueller Industries, Inc., WTC Holding Company, DENO Holding Company, Inc., Mueller Europe, Limited, and DENO Acquisition EURL (the Mueller entities) received a letter from counsel for IMI plc and IMI Kynoch Limited (IMI) concerning contribution proceedings by IMI against the Mueller entities regarding copper tubes. In the Competition Appeal Tribunal (the CAT) in the United Kingdom, IMI has been served with claims by 21 claimants, all companies within the Travis Perkins Group (TP and the TP Claimants). The TP Claimants are seeking follow-on damages arising out of the Copper Tubes Cartel, as described in the European Commission's September 3, 2004 decision. The claims thus arise from the findings of the European Commission as set forth in that decision. Mueller Industries, Inc., Mueller Europe, Limited, and WTC Holding Company also received a letter from counsel for IMI concerning contribution proceedings by IMI against those three Mueller entities regarding copper fittings. In the High Court, IMI has been served with claims by 21 TP Claimants. The TP Claimants are seeking follow-on damages arising out of the Copper Fittings Cartel, as described in the European Commission's September 20, 2006 decision. The claims similarly arise from the findings of the European Commission as set forth in that decision. The letters confirm that IMI has commenced (but not yet formally served) legal proceedings against the Mueller entities, and in those proceedings will be claiming a contribution for any follow-on losses. While the TP Claimants have provided their preliminary calculations of aggregate claimed damages for the Copper Tubes Cartel and the Copper Fittings Cartel, Mueller is unable at this time to estimate its potential liability, if any, for the contribution claims. As to the claims arising from the Copper Tubes Decision, brought in the CAT, the CAT has now granted approval for the case to be transferred to the High Court. Lead Refinery Site On July 12, 2012, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a remedy that consists of removal of contaminated soils which is subject to further review and consideration, as well as public comment, before it becomes final. There is no assurance that the remedy as proposed by EPA will be adopted, or that the EPA's current estimate of cost of approximately $29 million is reliable. Lead Refinery is currently unable to predict whether it might incur liability related to this site, or to estimate the extent of such liability or whether it would be material. EPA has also notified two other potentially responsible parties (PRPs) at the site; the allocation of costs, if any among the PRPs is unknown. Other Guarantees, in the form of letters of credit, are issued by the Company generally to assure the payment of insurance deductibles and certain retiree health benefits. The terms of the Company's guarantees are generally one year but are renewable annually as required. These letters are primarily backed by the Company's line of credit facility. The maximum payments that the Company could be required to make under its guarantees at June 30, 2012, was $13.0 million.

Note 2 - Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is involved in certain litigation as a result of claims that arose in the ordinary course of business, which management believes will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company may also realize the benefit of certain legal claims and litigation in the future; these gain contingencies are not recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Extruded Metals Class Action

A purported class action was filed in Michigan Circuit Court by Gaylord L. Miller, and all others similarly situated, against a subsidiary of the Company, Extruded Metals, Inc., in March 2012 under nuisance, negligence, and gross negligence theories. It is brought on behalf of all persons in the City of Belding, Michigan, whose property rights have allegedly been interfered with by fallout and/or dust and/or noxious odors, allegedly attributable to Extruded Metals' operations. Plaintiffs allege that they have suffered interference with the use and enjoyment of their properties. They seek compensatory and exemplary damages and injunctive relief. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter. At this time, the Company is unable to determine the impact, if any, that this matter will have on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Supplier Litigation

On May 6, 2011, the Company and two of its subsidiaries, Mueller Streamline Co. (Mueller Streamline) and B&K Industries, Inc. (B&K)(Plaintiffs), filed a civil lawsuit in federal district court in Los Angeles, California against a former supplier, Xiamen Lota International Co., Ltd (Xiamen Lota), its U.S. sales representative (Lota USA), and certain other persons (Defendants). The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the Defendants gave Peter D. Berkman, a former executive of the Company and B&K, an undisclosed interest in Lota USA, and made payments and promises of payments to him, in return for Peter Berkman maintaining the Company as a customer, increasing purchasing levels, and acquiescing to non-competitive and excessive pricing for Xiamen Lota products. The lawsuit alleges violations of federal statutes 18 U.S.C. Sections 1962(c) and (d) (RICO claims) and California state law unfair competition. The lawsuit seeks compensatory, treble and punitive damages, and other appropriate relief including an award of reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of suit. All of the foreign Defendants have been served under the Hague Convention and Xiamen Lota has withdrawn its motion contesting service of process (filed July 1, 2011). On January 4, 2012, the foreign Defendants filed a motion to dismiss all of the claims in the Company's Complaint for failure to state claims, and also joined in Lota USA's pending motion to dismiss (filed July 1, 2011). On December 16, 2011, the Court granted Lota USA's motion to disqualify the Company's counsel and the Company has retained new counsel to represent it going forward in the lawsuit. The motions to dismiss were heard on April 9, 2012, and the Court sustained Plaintiffs' unfair competition claim, and dismissed without prejudice and with leave to amend, their RICO claims. The Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint on April 30, 2012. Defendants moved to dismiss on May 17, 2012. The parties await the Court's ruling. A mediation will be held August 14 and 15, 2012. The Court set a trial date for this civil matter to commence on June 18, 2013.

U.K. Actions Relating To The European Commission's 2004 Copper Tubes Decision And 2006 Copper Fittings Decision

Mueller Industries, Inc., WTC Holding Company, DENO Holding Company, Inc., Mueller Europe, Limited, and DENO Acquisition EURL (the Mueller entities) received a letter from counsel for IMI plc and IMI Kynoch Limited (IMI) concerning contribution proceedings by IMI against the Mueller entities regarding copper tubes. In the Competition Appeal Tribunal (the CAT) in the United Kingdom, IMI has been served with claims by 21 claimants, all companies within the Travis Perkins Group (TP and the TP Claimants). The TP Claimants are seeking follow-on damages arising out of the Copper Tubes Cartel, as described in the European Commission's September 3, 2004 decision. The claims thus arise from the findings of the European Commission as set forth in that decision.

Mueller Industries, Inc., Mueller Europe, Limited, and WTC Holding Company also received a letter from counsel for IMI concerning contribution proceedings by IMI against those three Mueller entities regarding copper fittings. In the High Court, IMI has been served with claims by 21 TP Claimants. The TP Claimants are seeking follow-on damages arising out of the Copper Fittings Cartel, as described in the European Commission's September 20, 2006 decision. The claims similarly arise from the findings of the European Commission as set forth in that decision.

The letters confirm that IMI has commenced (but not yet formally served) legal proceedings against the Mueller entities, and in those proceedings will be claiming a contribution for any follow-on losses.

While the TP Claimants have provided their preliminary calculations of aggregate claimed damages for the Copper Tubes Cartel and the Copper Fittings Cartel, Mueller is unable at this time to estimate its potential liability, if any, for the contribution claims.

As to the claims arising from the Copper Tubes Decision, brought in the CAT, the CAT has now granted approval for the case to be transferred to the High Court.

Lead Refinery Site

On July 12, 2012, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a remedy that consists of removal of contaminated soils which is subject to further review and consideration, as well as public comment, before it becomes final. There is no assurance that the remedy as proposed by EPA will be adopted, or that the EPA's current estimate of cost of approximately $29 million is reliable. Lead Refinery is currently unable to predict whether it might incur liability related to this site, or to estimate the extent of such liability or whether it would be material. EPA has also notified two other potentially responsible parties (PRPs) at the site; the allocation of costs, if any among the PRPs is unknown.

Other

Guarantees, in the form of letters of credit, are issued by the Company generally to assure the payment of insurance deductibles and certain retiree health benefits. The terms of the Company's guarantees are generally one year but are renewable annually as required. These letters are primarily backed by the Company's line of credit facility. The maximum payments that the Company could be required to make under its guarantees at June 30, 2012, was $13.0 million.