CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Treasury stock	Noncontrolling interests
Balance at beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 29, 2018		80,183				23,480
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 29, 2018		$ 802	$ 276,849	$ 824,737	$ (79,792)	$ (474,240)	$ 14,904
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			(644)			1,908
Stock-based compensation expense			8,744
Issuance of restricted stock			(6,340)			$ 6,340
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 100,972			100,972
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(22,639)
Total other comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	10,372				11,022
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(94)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)						162
Repurchase of common stock						$ (4,251)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(314)
Purchase of Mueller Middle East							0
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests							(846)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,260)						5,260
Foreign currency translation	7,409						(650)
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 28, 2019		80,183				23,234
Balance at end of year 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			(745)			515
Stock-based compensation expense			8,570
Issuance of restricted stock			(6,383)			$ 6,383
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	139,493			139,493
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(22,869)
Total other comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	15,378				13,887
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(71)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)						248
Repurchase of common stock						$ (5,574)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(315)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests							0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,156)						4,156
Foreign currency translation	10,350						1,491
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 26, 2020		80,183				23,096
Balance at end of year 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			720			(636)
Stock-based compensation expense			9,822
Issuance of restricted stock			(4,385)			$ 4,385
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	468,520			468,520
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(29,725)
Total other comprehensive income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(230)				1,536
Issuance of shares under incentive stock option plans (in shares)						(88)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)						97
Repurchase of common stock						$ (4,864)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)						(218)
Purchase of Mueller Middle East							15,414
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests							(9,722)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,604)						6,604
Foreign currency translation	(6,730)						(1,766)
Balance at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 25, 2021		80,183				22,887
Balance at end of year at Dec. 25, 2021	$ 1,256,963	$ 802	$ 286,208	$ 1,458,489	$ (53,347)	$ (470,034)	$ 34,845