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. 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)			(32,256)
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 interests:
Purchase of Jungwoo-Mueller						0
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests						0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests						974	974
Foreign currency translation						(152)	(6,766)
Balance at Dec. 27, 2014	$ 802	268,575	992,798	(42,923)	$ (457,102)	33,284
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)			(13,478)
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 interests:
Purchase of Jungwoo-Mueller						0
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests						0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests						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
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		(419)			$ 3,499
Stock-based compensation expense		6,387
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options		0
Issuance of restricted stock		(3,781)			$ 3,780
Retained earnings:
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.			99,727				99,727
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.			(21,439)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income:
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.				(11,966)			(14,541)
Treasury stock:
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)					(178)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans		(419)			$ 3,499
Repurchase of common stock					$ (4,389)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)					133
Issuance of restricted stock		(3,781)			$ 3,780
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					(191)
Noncontrolling interests:
Purchase of Jungwoo-Mueller						11,649
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests						(3,765)	(3,765)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests						27	27
Foreign currency translation						(2,575)	(27,767)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 802	$ 273,345	$ 1,141,831	$ (66,956)	$ (450,338)	$ 37,753	$ 936,437
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	80,183				22,788