CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2014		Jun. 29, 2013		Jun. 28, 2014		Jun. 29, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 649,691		$ 582,282		$ 1,224,065		$ 1,141,972
Cost of goods sold	557,775		501,125		1,053,552		983,975
Depreciation and amortization	8,592		8,328		16,699		16,482
Selling, general, and administrative expense	35,120		34,814		67,303		66,157
Insurance settlement	0		(106,332)		0		(106,332)
Operating income	48,204		144,347		86,511		181,690
Interest expense	(1,457)		(1,101)		(2,483)		(1,697)
Other income, net	127		319		215		3,482
Income before income taxes	46,874		143,565		84,243		183,475
Income tax expense	(11,665)		(51,723)		(24,080)		(65,199)
Consolidated net income	35,209		91,842		60,163		118,276
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(164)		(692)		(412)		(924)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 35,045		$ 91,150		$ 59,751		$ 117,352
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	55,973	[1]	55,681	[1]	55,946	[1]	55,663	[1]
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	747	[1]	740	[1]	800	[1]	744	[1]
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,720	[1]	56,421	[1]	56,746	[1]	56,407	[1]
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.63	[1]	$ 1.64	[1]	$ 1.07	[1]	$ 2.11	[1]
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.62	[1]	$ 1.62	[1]	$ 1.05	[1]	$ 2.08	[1]
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.0750	[1]	$ 0.0625	[1]	$ 0.1500	[1]	$ 0.1250	[1]

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