CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 88,407	$ 102,534	$ 173,289
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	30,556	30,205	30,946
Amortization of intangibles	4,052	3,530	1,448
Amortization of debt issuance costs	432	341	299
Stock-based compensation expense	6,244	6,265	5,704
Insurance settlements	0	0	(106,332)
Gain on disposal of assets	(14,815)	(5,405)	(42,300)
Insurance proceeds - noncapital related	0	0	32,395
Impairment charges	0	0	4,304
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	(972)	(837)	(719)
Deferred income taxes	(15,818)	(6,495)	19,213
Recovery of doubtful accounts receivable	(130)	(500)	(273)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired and sold:
Receivables	51,660	(21,432)	19,383
Inventories	41,086	1,381	5,963
Other assets	12,449	(23,652)	562
Current liabilities	(45,585)	5,849	(14,139)
Other liabilities	436	(2,223)	(1,935)
Other, net	1,607	1,044	705
Net cash provided by operating activities	159,609	90,605	128,513
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash transferred	5,538	33,788	65,147
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(105,944)	(30,137)	(55,276)
Capital expenditures	(28,834)	(39,173)	(41,349)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliate	(65,900)	0	0
Insurance proceeds	0	0	29,910
Net withdrawals from (deposits into) restricted cash balances	4,333	(2,902)	(1,417)
Net cash used in investing activities	(190,807)	(38,424)	(2,985)
Financing activities:
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(16,903)	(16,819)	(13,941)
Repayments of long-term debt	(1,000)	(1,050)	(1,000)
(Repayment) issuance of debt by joint venture, net	(23,567)	7,258	857
Net cash used to settle stock-based awards	(760)	(777)	(228)
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	972	837	719
Debt issuance costs	0	0	(50)
Net cash used in financing activities	(41,258)	(10,551)	(13,643)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(4,834)	(1,296)	981
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(77,290)	40,334	112,866
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	352,134	311,800	198,934
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	$ 274,844	$ 352,134	$ 311,800