CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 311,800	$ 198,934
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,391 in 2013 and $1,644 in 2012	271,847	271,093
Inventories	251,716	229,434
Current deferred income taxes	8,106	26,438
Other current assets	31,248	21,295
Total current assets	874,717	747,194
Property, plant, and equipment, net	244,457	233,263
Goodwill, net	94,357	104,579
Other assets	34,236	19,119
Total Assets	1,247,767	1,104,155
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	29,083	27,570
Accounts payable	80,897	87,574
Accrued wages and other employee costs	37,109	34,378
Other current liabilities	72,167	109,174
Total current liabilities	219,256	258,696
Long-term debt, less current portion	206,250	207,300
Pension liabilities	10,645	35,187
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	16,781	19,832
Environmental reserves	22,144	22,597
Deferred income taxes	35,975	20,910
Other noncurrent liabilities	849	1,667
Total liabilities	511,900	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 28,302,337 in 2013 and 28,099,635 in 2012	401	401
Additional paid-in capital	267,142	267,826
Retained earnings	908,274	749,777
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(10,819)	(42,623)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(461,593)	(468,473)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	703,405	506,908
Noncontrolling interest	32,462	31,058
Total equity	735,867	537,966
Commitments and contingencies
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,247,767	$ 1,104,155