CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 02, 2016	Mar. 28, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 532,809	$ 537,242
Cost of goods sold	446,642	460,834
Depreciation and amortization	8,920	7,853
Selling, general, and administrative expense	35,780	32,831
Operating income	41,467	35,724
Interest expense	(1,848)	(2,076)
Other income, net	245	105
Income before income taxes	39,864	33,753
Income tax expense	(14,121)	(11,413)
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	2,922	0
Consolidated net income	28,665	22,340
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(35)	(362)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 28,630	$ 21,978
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,467	56,193
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	495	731
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,962	56,924
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.39
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.50	0.39
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.075	$ 0.075