CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 1,644	$ 1,564
Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock- par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Preferred stock- shares authorized (in shares)	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	0
Common stock- par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock- shares authorized (in shares)	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock- shares issued (in shares)	40,091,502	38,236,568
Common stock- shares outstanding (in shares)	28,099,635	38,236,568