CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014		Mar. 30, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 574,374		$ 559,690
Cost of goods sold	495,777		482,850
Depreciation and amortization	8,107		8,154
Selling, general, and administrative expense	32,183		31,343
Operating income	38,307		37,343
Interest expense	(1,026)		(596)
Other income, net	88		3,163
Income before income taxes	37,369		39,910
Income tax expense	(12,415)		(13,476)
Consolidated net income	24,954		26,434
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(248)		(232)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 24,706		$ 26,202
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	55,918	[1]	55,645	[1]
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	853	[1]	747	[1]
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,771	[1]	56,392	[1]
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	[1]	$ 0.47	[1]
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0750	[1]	$ 0.0625	[1]

[1] Adjusted retroactively to reflect the two-for-one stock split that occurred on March 14, 2014.