CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011	Sep. 29, 2012	Oct. 01, 2011
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 514,165	$ 585,809	$ 1,685,932	$ 1,926,413
Cost of goods sold	449,718	523,984	1,465,744	1,687,735
Depreciation and amortization	7,870	8,716	23,318	27,581
Selling, general, and administrative expense	32,120	34,245	97,209	102,944
Insurance settlement	0	0	(1,500)	0
Litigation settlement	0	0	0	(10,500)
Operating income	24,457	18,864	101,161	118,653
Interest expense	(353)	(2,822)	(5,711)	(9,004)
Other income, net	219	102	963	1,425
Income before income taxes	24,323	16,144	96,413	111,074
Income tax expense	(8,753)	(5,403)	(29,486)	(37,060)
Consolidated net income	15,570	10,741	66,927	74,014
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(59)	(266)	(900)	(621)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 15,511	$ 10,475	$ 66,027	$ 73,393
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	37,505	37,878	37,849	37,779
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	452	483	444	367
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	37,957	38,361	38,293	38,146
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.28	$ 1.74	$ 1.94
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.41	$ 0.27	$ 1.72	$ 1.92
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.30	$ 0.30