CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 26, 2020	Dec. 28, 2019	Dec. 29, 2018
Operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 143,649	$ 106,232	$ 106,820
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	38,715	37,337	35,118
Amortization of intangibles	6,128	5,356	4,437
Amortization of debt issuance costs	319	318	318
Loss from unconsolidated affiliates	10,219	24,594	12,645
Insurance proceeds - noncapital related	0	485	2,306
Change in the fair value of contingent consideration	0	3,625	0
Insurance recovery	0	(485)	(3,681)
Stock-based compensation expense	8,570	8,744	8,035
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	1,208	(80)	(286)
Non-cash pension plan termination expense	11,642	0	0
Loss (gain) on disposals of assets	132	(963)	(253)
Impairment charges	3,771	0	0
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(4,046)	(428)	170
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired:
Receivables	(76,404)	6,585	(11,056)
Inventories	5,207	39,561	27,512
Other assets	20,609	(15,639)	14,353
Current liabilities	74,097	(7,076)	(15,680)
Other liabilities	(1,142)	(7,944)	(14,769)
Other, net	2,399	322	1,903
Net cash provided by operating activities	245,073	200,544	167,892
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash transferred	181	3,240	18,703
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(72,648)	3,465	(167,677)
Capital expenditures	(43,885)	(31,162)	(38,481)
Issuance of notes receivable	(9,270)	0	0
Insurance proceeds - capital related	0	0	1,968
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0	(16,000)	(1,609)
Net cash used in investing activities	(125,622)	(40,457)	(187,096)
Financing activities:
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(22,341)	(22,325)	(22,705)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0	(846)	(592)
Issuance of long-term debt	190,038	100,658	204,233
Repayments of long-term debt	(246,898)	(206,718)	(172,002)
Repayment of debt by consolidated joint ventures, net	(259)	(4,305)	(2,915)
Repurchase of common stock	(5,574)	(1,763)	(33,562)
Payment of contingent consideration	(7,000)	(3,170)	0
Net cash used to settle stock-based awards	(230)	(1,225)	(726)
Net cash used in financing activities	(92,264)	(139,694)	(28,269)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,147	511	(1,952)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	29,334	20,904	(49,425)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the beginning of the year	98,042	77,138	126,563
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the year	$ 127,376	$ 98,042	$ 77,138