CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 26, 2015	Sep. 27, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated net income	$ 74,297	$ 84,485
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	25,132	25,888
Stock-based compensation expense	4,611	4,957
Equity in losses of unconsolidated subsidiary	2,191	0
Gain on disposal of assets	(14,875)	(1,146)
Impairment charges	570	0
Deferred income taxes	(8,262)	(6,908)
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	(953)	(829)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired:
Receivables	5,249	(62,854)
Inventories	29,901	(14,868)
Other assets	4,302	(15,272)
Current liabilities	(27,580)	(8,675)
Other liabilities	740	(797)
Other, net	145	223
Net cash provided by operating activities	95,468	4,204
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(22,502)	(28,406)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(107,405)	(30,137)
Net withdrawals from restricted cash balances	1,822	2,507
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary	(65,900)	0
Proceeds from sales of assets	5,521	4,920
Net cash used in investing activities	(188,464)	(51,116)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(12,669)	(12,606)
Issuance of long-term debt	0	12,008
Repayment of debt by joint venture, net	(21,597)	(3,170)
Net cash used to settle stock-based awards	(718)	(887)
Repurchase of common stock	0	(58)
Repayments of long-term debt	(750)	(800)
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	953	829
Net cash used in financing activities	(34,781)	(4,684)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3,612)	(346)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(131,389)	(51,942)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	352,134	311,800
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$ 220,745	$ 259,858