CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 26, 2020	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 2,398,043	$ 2,430,616	$ 2,507,878
Cost of goods sold	1,966,161	2,035,610	2,150,400
Depreciation and amortization	44,843	42,693	39,555
Selling, general, and administrative expense	159,483	162,358	148,888
Litigation settlement, net	(22,053)	0	0
Gain on sale of assets, net	0	(963)	(253)
Impairment charges	3,771	0	0
Insurance recovery	0	(485)	(3,681)
Operating income	245,838	191,403	172,969
Interest expense	(19,247)	(25,683)	(25,199)
Environmental expense	(4,454)	(1,321)	(1,320)
Pension plan termination expense	(17,835)	0	0
Other income, net	4,887	1,684	3,967
Income before income taxes	209,189	166,083	150,417
Income tax expense	(55,321)	(35,257)	(30,952)
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates, net of foreign tax	(10,219)	(24,594)	(12,645)
Consolidated net income	143,649	106,232	106,820
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,156)	(5,260)	(2,361)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 139,493	$ 100,972	$ 104,459
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	55,821	55,798	56,782
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	569	545	487
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,390	56,343	57,269
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.50	$ 1.81	$ 1.84
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	2.47	1.79	1.82
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.40	$ 0.40