CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2014		Sep. 28, 2013		Sep. 27, 2014		Sep. 28, 2013
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 602,820		$ 528,854		$ 1,826,885		$ 1,670,826
Cost of goods sold	521,278		456,302		1,574,830		1,440,277
Depreciation and amortization	8,952		7,882		25,651		24,364
Selling, general, and administrative expense	34,864		32,921		102,167		99,078
Gain on sale of plastic fittings manufacturing assets	0		(39,765)		0		(39,765)
Impairment charges	0		4,304		0		4,304
Insurance settlements	0		0		0		(106,332)
Operating income	37,726		67,210		124,237		248,900
Interest expense	(1,430)		(1,243)		(3,913)		(2,940)
Other income, net	225		842		440		4,324
Income before income taxes	36,521		66,809		120,764		250,284
Income tax expense	(12,199)		(26,816)		(36,279)		(92,015)
Consolidated net income	24,322		39,993		84,485		158,269
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(499)		(129)		(911)		(1,053)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 23,823		$ 39,864		$ 83,574		$ 157,216
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,107	[1]	55,787	[1]	55,999	[1]	55,704	[1]
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	637	[1]	723	[1]	746	[1]	737	[1]
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,744	[1]	56,510	[1]	56,745	[1]	56,441	[1]
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.71	[1]	$ 1.49	[1]	$ 2.82	[1]
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.71	[1]	$ 1.47	[1]	$ 2.79	[1]
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.0625	[1]	$ 0.225	[1]	$ 0.1875	[1]

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