CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 535,184	$ 602,820	$ 1,628,019	$ 1,826,885
Cost of goods sold	467,167	521,278	1,398,366	1,574,830
Depreciation and amortization	8,749	8,952	24,790	25,651
Selling, general, and administrative expense	32,241	34,004	98,492	100,512
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	(15,376)	(1,417)
Severance	0	860	3,442	3,072
Operating income	27,027	37,726	118,305	124,237
Interest expense	(1,682)	(1,430)	(5,977)	(3,913)
Other income, net	164	225	534	440
Income before income taxes	25,509	36,521	112,862	120,764
Income tax expense	(5,223)	(12,199)	(36,374)	(36,279)
Loss from unconsolidated subsidiary, net of tax	(2,191)	0	(2,191)	0
Consolidated net income	18,095	24,322	74,297	84,485
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(295)	(499)	(868)	(911)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 17,800	$ 23,823	$ 73,429	$ 83,574
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,375	56,107	56,272	55,999
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	598	637	690	746
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,973	56,744	56,962	56,745
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ 0.42	$ 1.30	$ 1.49
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.31	0.42	1.29	1.47
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.075	$ 0.075	$ 0.225	$ 0.225