CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2017		Jun. 30, 2018		Jul. 01, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Consolidated net income	$ 33,882	$ 27,833	[1]	$ 58,226	[1]	$ 58,288	[1],[2]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	(11,622)	906		(6,645)		8,116
Net change with respect to derivative instruments and hedging activities, net of tax of $(3), $(89), $276, and $(185)	35	261		(1,027)		317
Net change in pension and postretirement obligation adjustments, net of tax of $(322), $172, $(142), and $183	950	(405)		499		(365)
Attributable to unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax of $(35), $(704), $81, and $199	121	1,247		(280)		(351)
Other, net	0	(236)		0		(380)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	(10,516)	1,773		(7,453)		7,337
Consolidated comprehensive income	23,366	29,606		50,773		65,625
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(670)	(386)		(1,063)		(1,503)
Comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 22,696	$ 29,220		$ 49,710		$ 64,122

[1] The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the quarter and six months ended July 1, 2017 have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The components of net periodic benefit cost (income) other than the service cost component are included in other income, net in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Refer to Note 1 for further discussion.

[2] The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the six months ended July 1, 2017 has been adjusted to reflect the adoption of ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows reflects the changes during the periods in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash. Therefore, restricted cash activity is included with cash when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown. Refer to Note 1 for further discussion.