CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 165,755	$ 514,162
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,300 in 2012 and $1,564 in 2011	261,015	250,027
Inventories	224,358	219,193
Current deferred income taxes	21,306	21,104
Other current assets	17,075	22,213
Total current assets	689,509	1,026,699
Property, plant, and equipment, net	228,860	203,744
Goodwill	104,612	102,250
Other assets	16,435	14,911
Total Assets	1,039,416	1,347,604
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	12,570	41,265
Accounts payable	65,513	65,545
Accrued wages and other employee costs	31,277	39,319
Other current liabilities	101,750	67,115
Total current liabilities	211,110	213,244
Long-term debt, less current portion	207,550	156,476
Pension liabilities	31,671	32,839
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	21,575	21,405
Environmental reserves	22,811	22,892
Deferred income taxes	18,604	14,856
Other noncurrent liabilities	985	1,130
Total liabilities	514,306	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 27,970,180 in 2012 and 38,236,568 in 2011	401	401
Additional paid-in capital	267,516	266,936
Retained earnings	736,917	682,380
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(39,959)	(49,409)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(469,828)	(44,620)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	495,047	855,688
Noncontrolling interest	30,063	29,074
Total equity	525,110	884,762
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,039,416	$ 1,347,604