CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 29, 2012	$ 401	$ 267,826	$ 749,777	$ (42,623)	$ (468,473)	$ 31,058
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2012	80,183				23,984
Common stock:
Issuance of shares under two-for-one stock split	$ 0	0
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(1,205)			$ 4,716
Stock-based compensation expense		5,704
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		719
Issuance of restricted stock		(5,902)			$ 5,902
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.			172,600				$ 172,600
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.			(14,103)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.				31,804
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)					(244)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(1,205)			$ 4,716
Repurchase of common stock					$ (3,738)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					140
Issuance of restricted stock		(5,902)			$ 5,902
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					(302)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest						689	689
Foreign currency translation						715	3,285
Balance at Dec. 28, 2013	$ 401	267,142	908,274	(10,819)	$ (461,593)	32,462
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2013	80,183				23,578
Common stock:
Issuance of shares under two-for-one stock split	$ 401	(401)
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(1,646)			$ 4,504
Stock-based compensation expense		6,265
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		837
Issuance of restricted stock		(3,622)			$ 3,819
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.			101,560				101,560
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.			(17,036)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.				(32,104)
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)					(208)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(1,646)			$ 4,504
Repurchase of common stock					$ (3,832)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					107
Issuance of restricted stock		(3,622)			$ 3,819
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					(195)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest						974	974
Foreign currency translation						(152)	(6,766)
Balance at Dec. 27, 2014	$ 802	268,575	992,798	(42,923)	$ (457,102)	33,284	795,434
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2014	80,183				23,282
Common stock:
Issuance of shares under two-for-one stock split	$ 0	0
Additional paid-in capital:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(1,074)			$ 2,930
Stock-based compensation expense		6,244
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		972
Issuance of restricted stock		(3,559)			$ 3,784
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.			87,864				87,864
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.			(17,119)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.				(12,067)
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)					(149)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(1,074)			$ 2,930
Repurchase of common stock					$ (2,840)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					84
Issuance of restricted stock		(3,559)			$ 3,784
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					(193)
Noncontrolling interest:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest						543	543
Foreign currency translation						(1,410)	(19,108)
Balance at Dec. 26, 2015	$ 802	$ 271,158	$ 1,063,543	$ (54,990)	$ (453,228)	$ 32,417	$ 859,702
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 26, 2015	80,183				23,024