CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) - 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. 26, 2020		$ 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 (loss) income 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		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 (loss) income 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		802	285,148	1,176,812	(48,262)	(468,784)	28,200
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 25, 2021	1,256,963	802	286,208	1,458,489	(53,347)	(470,034)	34,845
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			293			(389)
Stock-based compensation expense			5,171
Issuance of restricted stock			(444)			444
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	364,868			364,868
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(28,546)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(21,172)				(19,583)
Repurchase of common stock						(33,469)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,904)						1,904
Foreign currency translation	(15,907)						(1,589)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 25, 2022	1,545,623	802	291,228	1,794,811	(72,930)	(503,448)	35,160
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 26, 2022		802	288,802	1,602,496	(47,442)	(474,258)	35,744
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Acquisition (issuance) of shares under incentive stock option plans			272			(137)
Stock-based compensation expense			2,598
Issuance of restricted stock			(444)			444
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	206,552			206,552
Dividends paid or payable to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.				(14,237)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	(27,044)				(25,488)
Repurchase of common stock						(29,497)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(972)						972
Foreign currency translation	(17,120)						(1,556)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 25, 2022	$ 1,545,623	$ 802	$ 291,228	$ 1,794,811	$ (72,930)	$ (503,448)	$ 35,160