Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Reclassification Adjustments Out of AOCI (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Oct. 01, 2016
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of goods sold	$ 471,262	$ 424,668	$ 1,484,000	$ 1,327,370
Interest expense	5,237	1,830	14,210	5,370
Income tax (benefit) expense	8,716	10,837	33,295	38,963
Selling, general, and administrative expense	33,276	32,413	102,953	102,707
Other income	458	(120)	(324)	(880)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(22,258)	(25,978)	(79,878)	(82,405)
Unrealized losses (gains) on derivatives [Member] | Amount Reclassified from AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of goods sold	223	848	1,247	(1,023)
Interest expense	232	91	696	291
Income tax (benefit) expense	(69)	(67)	(583)	441
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	386	872	1,360	(291)
Amortization of net loss and prior service cost on employee benefit plans [Member] | Amount Reclassified from AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income tax (benefit) expense	(55)	(132)	(165)	(394)
Selling, general, and administrative expense	301	527	902	1,581
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	246	395	737	1,187
Sale of available-for-sale securities [Member] | Amount Reclassified from AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	232	0
Other income	0	0	(611)	0
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	0	0	(379)	0
Gain recognized upon sale of business [Member] | Amount Reclassified from AOCI [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Income tax (benefit) expense	0	0	0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense	0	0	(3,777)	0
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 0	$ 0	$ (3,777)	$ 0