CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 87,011	$ 99,754	$ 88,407
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	30,800	30,827	30,556
Amortization of intangibles	3,144	4,306	4,052
Amortization of debt issuance costs	303	569	432
Loss (income) from unconsolidated affiliates	2,077	(1,861)	0
Insurance proceeds - noncapital related	500	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	7,450	6,387	6,244
Gain on sale of businesses	(1,491)	0	(15,376)
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	(624)	(651)	561
Impairment charges	1,466	6,778	0
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	0	0	(972)
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(3,160)	6,998	(15,818)
Recovery of doubtful accounts receivable	0	(50)	(130)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of businesses acquired and sold:
Receivables	(1,779)	(16,502)	51,660
Inventories	(86,286)	6,662	41,086
Other assets	(5,325)	5,808	12,449
Current liabilities	10,678	5,646	(45,585)
Other liabilities	64	1,518	436
Other, net	(833)	1,588	1,607
Net cash provided by operating activities	43,995	157,777	159,609
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash transferred	31,564	10,304	5,538
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(18,396)	(20,533)	(105,944)
Capital expenditures	(46,131)	(37,497)	(28,834)
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	(3,317)	0	(65,900)
Net withdrawals from (deposits to) restricted cash balances	2,858	(5,331)	4,333
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,422)	(53,057)	(190,807)
Financing activities:
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(196,944)	(21,224)	(16,903)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(2,909)	(3,765)	0
Issuance of long-term debt	71,475	3,500	0
Repayments of long-term debt	(111,224)	(1,074)	(1,000)
(Repayment) issuance of debt by consolidated joint ventures, net	(3,369)	2,265	(23,567)
Net cash used to settle stock-based awards	(1,595)	(1,306)	(760)
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options	0	0	972
Debt issuance costs	0	(957)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(244,566)	(22,561)	(41,258)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,945	(5,686)	(4,834)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(231,048)	76,473	(77,290)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	351,317	274,844	352,134
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	$ 120,269	$ 351,317	$ 274,844