CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 401	$ 266,936	$ 682,380	$ (49,409)	$ (44,620)	$ 29,074
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	80,183				3,710
Common stock:
Issuance of shares under two-for-one stock split	0	0
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(4,303)			20,881
Stock-based compensation expense		6,136
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		2,528
Issuance of restricted stock		(3,471)			3,471
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.			82,395				82,395
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.			(14,998)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.				6,786
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)					(1,152)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					21,710
Repurchase of common stock					(448,205)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					(284)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest						1,278	1,278
Foreign currency translation						706	8,070
Balance at Dec. 29, 2012	401	267,826	749,777	(42,623)	(468,473)	31,058
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2012	80,183				23,984
Common stock:
Issuance of shares under two-for-one stock split	0	0
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(1,205)			4,716
Stock-based compensation expense		5,704
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		719
Issuance of restricted stock		(5,902)			5,902
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.			172,600				172,600
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.			(14,103)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.				31,804
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)					(244)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					140
Repurchase of common stock					(3,738)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					(302)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest						689	689
Foreign currency translation						715	3,285
Balance at Dec. 28, 2013	401	267,142	908,274	(10,819)	(461,593)	32,462	735,867
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2013	80,183				23,578
Common stock:
Issuance of shares under two-for-one stock split	401	(401)
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(1,646)			4,504
Stock-based compensation expense		6,265
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		837
Issuance of restricted stock		(3,622)			3,819
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.			101,560				101,560
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.			(17,036)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.				(32,104)
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)					(208)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					107
Repurchase of common stock					(3,832)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					(195)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest						974	974
Foreign currency translation						(152)	(6,766)
Balance at Dec. 27, 2014	$ 802	$ 268,575	$ 992,798	$ (42,923)	$ (457,102)	$ 33,284	$ 795,434
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2014	80,183				23,282