CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 559,690	$ 577,668
Cost of goods sold	482,850	493,175
Depreciation and amortization	8,154	7,529
Selling, general, and administrative expense	31,343	31,602
Insurance settlement	0	(1,500)
Operating income	37,343	46,862
Interest expense	(596)	(2,637)
Other income, net	3,163	254
Income before income taxes	39,910	44,479
Income tax expense	(13,476)	(11,662)
Consolidated net income	26,434	32,817
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(232)	(218)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 26,202	$ 32,599
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	27,822	38,014
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	374	444
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	28,196	38,458
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.94	$ 0.86
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.93	$ 0.85
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.125	$ 0.10