CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 550,363	$ 506,584	$ 1,742,549	$ 1,583,464
Cost of goods sold	471,262	424,668	1,484,000	1,327,370
Depreciation and amortization	8,266	9,016	25,216	26,997
Selling, general, and administrative expense	33,276	32,413	102,953	102,707
Asset impairments	0	3,000	411	3,000
Operating income	37,559	37,487	129,969	123,390
Interest expense	(5,237)	(1,830)	(14,210)	(5,370)
Other (expense) income, net	(458)	120	324	880
Income before income taxes	31,864	35,777	116,083	118,900
Income tax expense	(8,716)	(10,837)	(33,295)	(38,963)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	(394)	1,122	(1,746)	3,049
Consolidated net income	22,754	26,062	81,042	82,986
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(496)	(84)	(1,164)	(581)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 22,258	$ 25,978	$ 79,878	$ 82,405
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,987	56,631	56,891	56,536
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	456	586	542	589
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	57,443	57,217	57,433	57,125
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.46	$ 1.40	$ 1.46
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.39	0.45	1.39	1.44
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1	$ 0.1	$ 8.300	$ 0.275