CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,100,002	$ 2,364,227	$ 2,158,541
Cost of goods sold	1,809,702	2,043,719	1,862,089
Depreciation and amortization	34,608	33,735	32,394
Selling, general, and administrative expense	130,358	131,740	134,914
Insurance settlements	0	0	(106,332)
Gain on sale of assets	(15,376)	(6,259)	(39,765)
Impairment charges	0	0	4,304
Severance	3,442	7,296	0
Operating income	137,268	153,996	270,937
Interest expense	(7,667)	(5,740)	(3,990)
Other income (expense), net	2,188	(243)	4,451
Income before income taxes	131,789	148,013	271,398
Income tax expense	(43,382)	(45,479)	(98,109)
Consolidated net income	88,407	102,534	173,289
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(543)	(974)	(689)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 87,864	$ 101,560	$ 172,600
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,316	56,042	55,742
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	652	726	742
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,968	56,768	56,484
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.56	$ 1.81	$ 3.10
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.54	1.79	3.06
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.30	$ 0.25