CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 25, 2022	Jun. 26, 2021	Jun. 25, 2022	Jun. 26, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,150,042	$ 1,012,592	$ 2,160,044	$ 1,830,740
Cost of goods sold	820,914	799,712	1,565,425	1,468,130
Depreciation and amortization	11,302	11,134	22,143	22,889
Selling, general, and administrative expense	48,956	43,932	96,412	89,367
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	(5,507)	0
Operating income	268,870	157,814	481,571	250,354
Interest expense	(147)	(1,866)	(305)	(6,335)
Redemption premium	0	(5,674)	0	(5,674)
Other income, net	2,203	683	2,983	1,260
Income before income taxes	270,926	150,957	484,249	239,605
Income tax expense	(68,290)	(39,006)	(122,489)	(60,767)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates, net of foreign tax	4,888	(1,019)	5,012	(2,668)
Consolidated net income	207,524	110,932	366,772	176,170
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(972)	(2,100)	(1,904)	(4,231)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 206,552	$ 108,832	$ 364,868	$ 171,939
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	55,787	55,946	55,943	55,931
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	741	866	776	811
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,528	56,812	56,719	56,742
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.70	$ 1.95	$ 6.52	$ 3.07
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	3.65	1.92	6.43	3.03
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.13	$ 0.50	$ 0.26