Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
		Dec. 26, 2015		Sep. 26, 2015		Jun. 27, 2015		Mar. 28, 2015		Dec. 27, 2014		Sep. 27, 2014		Jun. 28, 2014		Mar. 29, 2014		Dec. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	[1]	$ 471,983		$ 535,184		$ 555,593		$ 537,242		$ 537,342		$ 602,820		$ 649,691		$ 574,374
Gross profit	[1],[2]	60,647		68,017		85,228		76,408		68,453		81,542		91,916		78,597
Consolidated net income		14,110	[3]	18,095	[1],[3],[4]	33,862	[1],[3],[5]	22,340	[1],[3]	18,049	[1],[6],[7]	24,322	[1],[7]	35,209	[1],[7]	24,954	[1],[7]	$ 88,407	$ 102,534	$ 173,289
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.		$ 14,435	[1]	$ 17,800	[1]	$ 33,651	[1]	$ 21,978	[1]	$ 17,987	[1]	$ 23,823	[1]	$ 35,045	[1]	$ 24,706	[1]	$ 87,864	$ 101,560	$ 172,600
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.26	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ 0.60	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.32	[1]	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.63	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]	$ 1.56	$ 1.81	$ 3.10
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)		0.25	[1]	0.31	[1]	0.59	[1]	0.39	[1]	0.32	[1]	0.42	[1]	0.62	[1]	0.44	[1]	1.54	1.79	3.06
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.075	[1]	$ 0.30	$ 0.30	$ 0.25
Gain on sale of assets						$ 15,400				$ 4,800								$ 15,376	$ 6,259	$ 39,765
Pre-tax charges related to severance						$ 3,400				$ 4,200								$ 3,442	$ 7,296	$ 0

[1] The sum of quarterly amounts may not equal the annual amounts reported due to rounding. In addition, the earnings per share amounts are computed independently for each quarter, while the full year is based on the weighted average shares outstanding.

[2] Gross profit is net sales less cost of goods sold, which excludes depreciation and amortization.

[3] Includes income earned by Turbotec, acquired during Q2 2015, Sherwood, acquired during Q2 2015, and Great Lakes, acquired during Q3 2015.

[4] During Q3 2015, the Company recorded a permanent adjustment to a deferred tax liability of $4.2 million.

[5] Includes $15.4 million pre-tax gain on sale of assets and $3.4 million of pre-tax charges related to severance.

[6] Includes $4.8 million pre-tax gain on sale of assets and $4.2 million of pre-tax charges related to severance.

[7] Includes losses incurred by Yorkshire, acquired during Q1 2014.