CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 29, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Consolidated net income	$ 20,863	$ 22,754	[1]	$ 79,089	$ 81,042	[1],[2]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	1,111	7,154		(5,534)	15,270
Net change with respect to derivative instruments and hedging activities, net of tax of $(33), $23, $243, and $(162)	131	(132)		(896)	185
Net change in pension and postretirement obligation adjustments, net of tax of $(79), $102, $(221), and $285	270	(207)		769	(572)
Attributable to unconsolidated affiliates, net of tax of $2,005, $415, $2,086, and $614	(6,907)	(735)		(7,187)	(1,086)
Other, net	0	0		0	(380)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net	(5,395)	6,080		(12,848)	13,417
Consolidated comprehensive income	15,468	28,834		66,241	94,459
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(34)	(499)		(1,097)	(2,002)
Comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 15,434	$ 28,335		$ 65,144	$ 92,457

[1] The Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 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 (expense), 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 nine months ended September 30, 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.