CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2017	Apr. 02, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 577,920	$ 532,809
Cost of goods sold	488,427	446,642
Depreciation and amortization	8,355	8,920
Selling, general, and administrative expense	35,531	35,780
Operating income	45,607	41,467
Interest expense	(2,531)	(1,848)
Other income, net	551	245
Income before income taxes	43,627	39,864
Income tax expense	(11,929)	(14,121)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	(1,243)	2,922
Consolidated net income	30,455	28,665
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(468)	(35)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 29,987	$ 28,630
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,780	56,467
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	658	495
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	57,438	56,962
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.53	$ 0.51
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.52	0.50
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.10	$ 0.075