CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 611,781	$ 640,060
Cost of goods sold	511,393	545,670
Depreciation and amortization	10,555	9,456
Selling, general, and administrative expense	40,653	34,057
Asset impairment	0	3,469
Operating income	49,180	47,408
Interest expense	(6,954)	(5,909)
Other (expense) income, net	(172)	560
Income before income taxes	42,054	42,059
Income tax expense	(9,546)	(7,395)
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates, net of foreign tax	(15,369)	(10,320)
Consolidated net income	17,139	24,344
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,416)	(216)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 15,723	$ 24,128
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	55,728	56,900
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	526	517
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,254	57,417
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.42
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.28	0.42
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.1	$ 0.1