CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ 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 period at Dec. 29, 2018		$ 802	$ 276,849	$ 824,737	$ (79,792)	$ (474,240)	$ 14,904
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(56)			(118)
Stock-based compensation expense			2,007
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 15,723			15,723
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(5,662)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	7,115				6,911
Repurchase of common stock						(1,763)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,416)						1,416
Foreign currency translation	6,057						204
Balance at end of period at Mar. 30, 2019		802	278,800	834,798	(72,881)	(476,121)	16,524
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 28, 2019	662,136	802	278,609	903,070	(68,770)	(470,243)	18,668
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(397)			860
Stock-based compensation expense			1,985
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	32,415			32,415
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(5,675)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(21,986)				(21,395)
Repurchase of common stock						(5,574)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,536)						1,536
Foreign currency translation	(21,255)						(591)
Balance at end of period at Mar. 28, 2020	$ 665,300	$ 802	$ 280,197	$ 929,810	$ (90,165)	$ (474,957)	$ 19,613