CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
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			(896)			719
Stock-based compensation expense			6,332
Issuance of restricted stock			(6,382)			6,382
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 103,073			103,073
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(17,160)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(12,601)				(12,341)
Repurchase of common stock						(5,574)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests							0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,322)						3,322
Foreign currency translation	(11,514)						(260)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 26, 2020		802	277,663	988,983	(81,111)	(468,716)	21,730
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 27, 2020		802	281,856	951,992	(89,799)	(474,170)	19,523
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			(229)			(644)
Stock-based compensation expense			2,134
Issuance of restricted stock			(6,098)			6,098
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	42,702			42,702
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(5,711)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	9,640				8,688
Repurchase of common stock						0
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests							0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,255)						1,255
Foreign currency translation	9,320						952
Balance at end of period at Sep. 26, 2020		802	277,663	988,983	(81,111)	(468,716)	21,730
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			728			(484)
Stock-based compensation expense			7,228
Issuance of restricted stock			(4,722)			4,722
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	342,919			342,919
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(22,276)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	1,298				2,728
Repurchase of common stock						(26)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests							(9,722)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,507)						5,507
Foreign currency translation	(667)						(1,430)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 25, 2021	1,126,232	802	283,285	1,340,337	(52,155)	(464,707)	18,670
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 26, 2021		802	285,148	1,176,812	(48,262)	(468,784)	28,200
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			163			(360)
Stock-based compensation expense			2,411
Issuance of restricted stock			(4,437)			4,437
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	170,980			170,980
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(7,455)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(4,977)				(3,893)
Repurchase of common stock						0
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests							(9,722)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,276)						1,276
Foreign currency translation	(8,569)						(1,084)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 25, 2021	$ 1,126,232	$ 802	$ 283,285	$ 1,340,337	$ (52,155)	$ (464,707)	$ 18,670