CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 26, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated net income	$ 82,986	$ 74,297
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	27,267	25,132
Stock-based compensation expense	4,553	4,611
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates	(3,049)	2,191
Gain on disposal of assets	(747)	(14,875)
Impairment charges	3,000	570
Deferred income taxes	6,491	(8,262)
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	0	(953)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired:
Receivables	(45,780)	5,249
Inventories	(914)	29,901
Other assets	14,428	4,302
Current liabilities	(15,998)	(27,580)
Other liabilities	(2,101)	740
Other, net	450	145
Net cash provided by operating activities	70,586	95,468
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(15,632)	(22,502)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(20,533)	(107,405)
Net withdrawals from restricted cash balances	1,177	1,822
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	0	(65,900)
Proceeds from sales of assets	5,301	5,521
Net cash used in investing activities	(29,687)	(188,464)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(15,555)	(12,669)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(3,765)	0
Issuance of long-term debt	2,000	0
Issuance (repayment) of debt by joint ventures, net	5,006	(21,597)
Net cash used to settle stock-based awards	(1,356)	(718)
Repayments of long-term debt	(769)	(750)
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	0	953
Net cash used in financing activities	(14,439)	(34,781)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3,511)	(3,612)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	22,949	(131,389)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period	274,844	352,134
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$ 297,793	$ 220,745