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			(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		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]
Acquisition (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		802	281,856	951,992	(89,799)	(474,170)	19,523
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			565			(124)
Stock-based compensation expense			4,817
Issuance of restricted stock			(285)			285
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	171,939			171,939
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(14,821)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	6,275				6,621
Repurchase of common stock						(26)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,231)						4,231
Foreign currency translation	7,902						(346)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 26, 2021	973,916	802	285,148	1,176,812	(48,262)	(468,784)	28,200
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 27, 2021		802	282,713	1,075,410	(48,528)	(469,251)	26,867
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			12			182
Stock-based compensation expense			2,708
Issuance of restricted stock			(285)			285
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	108,832			108,832
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(7,430)
Total other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(501)				266
Repurchase of common stock						0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,100)						2,100
Foreign currency translation	3,515						(767)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 26, 2021	$ 973,916	$ 802	$ 285,148	$ 1,176,812	$ (48,262)	$ (468,784)	$ 28,200