CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 666,394	$ 662,773	$ 1,278,175	$ 1,302,833
Cost of goods sold	563,948	563,820	1,075,341	1,109,490
Depreciation and amortization	10,478	9,006	21,033	18,462
Selling, general, and administrative expense	40,446	38,428	81,099	72,485
(Gain) loss on sale of assets	0	(409)	0	3,060
Operating income	51,522	51,928	100,702	99,336
Interest expense	(7,033)	(6,073)	(13,987)	(11,982)
Other income, net	462	586	290	1,146
Income before income taxes	44,951	46,441	87,005	88,500
Income tax expense	(10,432)	(12,411)	(19,978)	(19,806)
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates, net of foreign tax	(5,843)	(148)	(21,212)	(10,468)
Consolidated net income	28,676	33,882	45,815	58,226
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(690)	(700)	(2,106)	(916)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 27,986	$ 33,182	$ 43,709	$ 57,310
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	55,753	56,797	55,741	56,848
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	561	514	543	516
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,314	57,311	56,284	57,364
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ 0.58	$ 0.78	$ 1.01
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	0.50	0.58	0.78	1.00
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.20	$ 0.20