CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 27, 2014		$ 802	$ 268,575	$ 992,798	$ (42,923)	$ (457,102)	$ 33,284
Balance at beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 27, 2014		80,183				23,282
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(1,074)			$ 2,930
Stock-based compensation expense			6,244
Income tax benefit from exercise of stock options			972
Issuance of restricted stock			(3,559)			$ 3,784
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 87,864			87,864
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(17,119)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(13,478)				(12,067)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(149)
Repurchase of common stock						$ (2,840)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)						84
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(543)						543
Foreign currency translation	(19,108)						(1,410)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(193)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 26, 2015		$ 802	271,158	1,063,543	(54,990)	$ (453,228)	32,417
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 26, 2015		80,183				23,024
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(419)			$ 3,499
Stock-based compensation expense			6,387
Issuance of restricted stock			(3,781)			$ 3,780
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	99,727			99,727
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(21,439)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(14,541)				(11,966)
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(178)
Repurchase of common stock						$ (4,389)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)						133
Purchase of Jungwoo-Mueller							11,649
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	3,765						(3,765)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(27)						27
Foreign currency translation	(27,767)						(2,575)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(191)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2016	936,437	$ 802	273,345	1,141,831	(66,956)	$ (450,338)	37,753
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		80,183				22,788
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(2,118)			$ 7,828
Stock-based compensation expense			7,450
Issuance of restricted stock			(4,092)			$ 4,092
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	85,598			85,598
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(483,926)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	17,272				15,900
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(395)
Repurchase of common stock						$ (7,305)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)						188
Sale of Mueller-Xingrong							(23,712)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	2,909						(2,909)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,413)						1,413
Foreign currency translation	13,174						1,372
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(208)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 30, 2017	$ 536,028	$ 802	$ 274,585	$ 743,503	$ (51,056)	$ (445,723)	$ 13,917
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 30, 2017		80,183				22,373