CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 26, 2015	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 26, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 506,584	$ 535,184	$ 1,583,464	$ 1,628,019
Cost of goods sold	424,668	467,167	1,327,370	1,398,366
Depreciation and amortization	9,016	8,749	26,997	24,790
Selling, general, and administrative expense	32,413	32,241	102,707	97,922
Asset impairments	3,000	0	3,000	570
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	0	(15,376)
Severance	0	0	0	3,442
Operating income	37,487	27,027	123,390	118,305
Interest expense	(1,830)	(1,682)	(5,370)	(5,977)
Other income, net	120	164	880	534
Income before income taxes	35,777	25,509	118,900	112,862
Income tax expense	(10,837)	(5,223)	(38,963)	(36,374)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	1,122	(2,191)	3,049	(2,191)
Consolidated net income	26,062	18,095	82,986	74,297
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(84)	(295)	(581)	(868)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 25,978	$ 17,800	$ 82,405	$ 73,429
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,631	56,375	56,536	56,272
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	586	598	589	690
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	57,217	56,973	57,125	56,962
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46	$ 0.32	$ 1.46	$ 1.30
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.45	0.31	1.44	1.29
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.100	$ 0.075	$ 0.275	$ 0.225