CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 28, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 326,894	$ 352,134
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $565 in 2015 and $666 in 2014	307,984	275,065
Inventories	246,395	256,585
Other current assets	59,858	57,429
Total current assets	941,131	941,213
Property, plant, and equipment, net	244,909	245,910
Goodwill	102,582	102,909
Other assets	36,208	38,064
Total assets	1,324,830	1,328,096
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	31,676	36,194
Accounts payable	100,813	100,735
Accrued wages and other employee costs	30,070	41,595
Other current liabilities	61,601	59,545
Total current liabilities	224,160	238,069
Long-term debt, less current portion	205,000	205,250
Pension liabilities	18,461	20,070
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	21,368	21,486
Environmental reserves	21,832	21,842
Deferred income taxes	23,100	24,556
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,107	1,389
Total liabilities	517,028	532,662
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 80,183,004; outstanding 56,943,098 in 2015 and 56,901,445 in 2014	802	802
Additional paid-in capital	269,636	268,575
Retained earnings	1,010,505	992,798
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(49,429)	(42,923)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(456,651)	(457,102)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	774,863	762,150
Noncontrolling interest	32,939	33,284
Total equity	807,802	795,434
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,324,830	$ 1,328,096