CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 322,177	$ 198,934
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,429 in 2013 and $1,644 in 2012	312,919	271,093
Inventories	234,081	229,434
Current deferred income taxes	28,957	26,438
Other current assets	26,209	21,295
Total current assets	924,343	747,194
Property, plant, and equipment, net	222,751	233,263
Goodwill	94,048	104,579
Other assets	19,479	19,119
Total assets	1,260,621	1,104,155
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	33,036	27,570
Accounts payable	76,725	87,574
Accrued wages and other employee costs	33,845	34,378
Other current liabilities	100,566	109,174
Total current liabilities	244,172	258,696
Long-term debt, less current portion	206,550	207,300
Pension liabilities	32,474	35,187
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	19,731	19,832
Environmental reserves	22,435	22,597
Deferred income taxes	39,698	20,910
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,141	1,667
Total liabilities	566,201	566,189
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 28,272,201 in 2013 and 28,099,635 in 2012	401	401
Additional paid-in capital	266,738	267,826
Retained earnings	896,428	749,777
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(39,327)	(42,623)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(462,491)	(468,473)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	661,749	506,908
Noncontrolling interest	32,671	31,058
Total equity	694,420	537,966
Commitments and contingencies
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,260,621	$ 1,104,155