CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 25, 2010
Operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 83,673	$ 87,086	$ 87,535
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	30,326	35,966	39,656
Amortization of intangibles	1,169	899	708
Amortization of debt issuance costs	438	397	288
Stock-based compensation expense	6,136	3,482	2,877
Insurance settlements	(1,500)	0	(22,736)
Insurance proceeds - noncapital related	14,250	10,000	5,561
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	(2,528)	(853)	(145)
Deferred income taxes	(1,284)	(4,190)	(6,627)
Doubtful accounts receivable	837	(229)	4,763
Loss (gain) on disposal of properties	1,411	(202)	756
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired:
Receivables	(23,690)	28,716	(46,494)
Inventories	(4,834)	(15,678)	(17,248)
Other assets	(14,985)	460	2,974
Current liabilities	8,368	7,966	4,913
Other liabilities	9,345	(1,593)	(623)
Other, net	1,165	1,522	199
Net cash provided by operating activities	108,297	153,749	56,357
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(56,825)	(18,751)	(18,678)
Acquisition of businesses	(11,561)	(6,882)	(2,021)
Proceeds from sales of properties	517	1,984	71
Net withdrawals from (deposits into) restricted cash balances	9,243	(3,055)	(156)
Insurance proceeds	42,250	0	18,798
Net cash used in investing activities	(16,376)	(26,704)	(1,986)
Financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(149,176)	(750)	0
Repurchase of common stock	(427,446)	0	0
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(14,891)	(15,146)	(15,074)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0	0	(741)
(Repayment) issuance of debt by joint venture, net	(14,429)	6,162	6,848
Issuance of long-term debt	200,000	0	0
Net cash (used) received to settle stock-based awards	(4,181)	3,879	2,428
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	2,528	853	145
Debt issuance costs	(1,053)	(1,942)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(408,648)	(6,944)	(6,394)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1,499	(78)	161
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(315,228)	120,023	48,138
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	514,162	394,139	346,001
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	$ 198,934	$ 514,162	$ 394,139