CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,266,073	$ 2,055,622	$ 2,100,002
Cost of goods sold	1,940,617	1,723,499	1,809,702
Depreciation and amortization	33,944	35,133	34,608
Selling, general, and administrative expense	139,580	137,499	130,358
Gain on sale of businesses	(1,491)	0	(15,376)
Impairment charges	1,466	6,778	0
Severance	0	0	3,442
Operating income	151,957	152,713	137,268
Interest expense	(19,502)	(7,387)	(7,667)
Environmental expense	(7,284)	(1,279)	(46)
Other income, net	1,801	1,983	2,234
Income before income taxes	126,972	146,030	131,789
Income tax expense	(37,884)	(48,137)	(43,382)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax	(2,077)	1,861	0
Consolidated net income	87,011	99,754	88,407
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,413)	(27)	(543)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 85,598	$ 99,727	$ 87,864
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	56,925	56,572	56,316
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	559	597	652
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	57,484	57,169	56,968
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.50	$ 1.76	$ 1.56
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.49	1.74	1.54
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 8.4	$ 0.375	$ 0.300