CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Cost of acquisition	$ 2,158,541	$ 2,189,938	$ 2,417,797
Cost of goods sold	1,862,089	1,904,463	2,115,677
Depreciation and amortization	32,394	31,495	36,865
Selling, general, and administrative expense	134,914	129,456	135,953
Insurance settlements	(106,332)	(1,500)	0
Gain on sale of plastic fittings manufacturing assets	(39,765)	0	0
Impairment charges	4,304	0	0
Litigation settlement	0	(4,050)	(10,500)
Severance	0	3,369	0
Operating income	270,937	126,705	139,802
Interest expense	(3,990)	(6,890)	(11,553)
Other income, net	4,451	539	1,912
Income before income taxes	271,398	120,354	130,161
Income tax expense	(98,109)	(36,681)	(43,075)
Consolidated net income	173,289	83,673	87,086
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(689)	(1,278)	(765)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 172,600	$ 82,395	$ 86,321
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	27,871	35,332	37,835
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	371	414	361
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	28,242	35,746	38,196
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 6.19	$ 2.33	$ 2.28
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 6.11	$ 2.31	$ 2.26
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.43	$ 0.40