CONDENSED 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			(283)			156
Stock-based compensation expense			4,302
Issuance of restricted stock			(242)			323
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 43,709			43,709
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(11,325)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	4,119				5,038
Repurchase of common stock						(1,763)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,106)						2,106
Foreign currency translation	3,080						(919)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 29, 2019		802	280,626	857,121	(74,754)	(475,524)	16,091
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 30, 2019		802	278,800	834,798	(72,881)	(476,121)	16,524
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(227)			274
Stock-based compensation expense			2,295
Issuance of restricted stock			(242)			323
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	27,986			27,986
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(5,663)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(2,996)				(1,873)
Repurchase of common stock						0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(690)						690
Foreign currency translation	(2,977)						(1,123)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 29, 2019		802	280,626	857,121	(74,754)	(475,524)	16,091
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			(667)			1,363
Stock-based compensation expense			4,198
Issuance of restricted stock			(284)			284
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	60,371			60,371
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(11,449)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(22,241)				(21,029)
Repurchase of common stock						(5,574)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,067)						2,067
Foreign currency translation	(20,834)						(1,212)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 27, 2020	690,204	802	281,856	951,992	(89,799)	(474,170)	19,523
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 28, 2020		802	280,197	929,810	(90,165)	(474,957)	19,613
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans			(270)			503
Stock-based compensation expense			2,213
Issuance of restricted stock			(284)			284
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	27,956			27,956
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(5,774)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(255)				366
Repurchase of common stock						0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(531)						531
Foreign currency translation	421						(621)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 27, 2020	$ 690,204	$ 802	$ 281,856	$ 951,992	$ (89,799)	$ (474,170)	$ 19,523