CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016	Jul. 01, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 614,266	$ 544,071	$ 1,192,186	$ 1,076,880
Cost of goods sold	524,311	456,060	1,012,738	902,702
Depreciation and amortization	8,595	9,061	16,950	17,981
Selling, general, and administrative expense	34,557	34,514	70,088	70,294
Operating income	46,803	44,436	92,410	85,903
Interest expense	(6,442)	(1,692)	(8,973)	(3,540)
Other income, net	231	515	782	760
Income before income taxes	40,592	43,259	84,219	83,123
Income tax expense	(12,650)	(14,005)	(24,579)	(28,126)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	(109)	(995)	(1,352)	1,927
Consolidated net income	27,833	28,259	58,288	56,924
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(200)	(462)	(668)	(497)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 27,633	$ 27,797	$ 57,620	$ 56,427
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,906	56,511	56,843	56,489
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	511	418	585	456
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	57,417	56,929	57,428	56,945
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 0.49	$ 1.01	$ 1.00
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.48	0.49	1.00	0.99
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1	$ 0.1	$ 8.2	$ 0.175