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. 28, 2019		$ 802	$ 278,609	$ 903,070	$ (68,770)	$ (470,243)	$ 18,668
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (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 income (loss) 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		802	280,197	929,810	(90,165)	(474,957)	19,613
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 26, 2020	801,060	802	280,051	1,019,694	(54,883)	(468,919)	24,315
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			553			(306)
Stock-based compensation expense			2,109
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	63,107			63,107
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(7,391)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	6,776				6,355
Repurchase of common stock						(26)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,131)						2,131
Foreign currency translation	4,387						421
Balance at end of period at Mar. 27, 2021	$ 868,013	$ 802	$ 282,713	$ 1,075,410	$ (48,528)	$ (469,251)	$ 26,867