CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2022	Sep. 25, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated net income	$ 522,585	$ 348,426
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	33,261	33,932
Stock-based compensation expense	12,254	7,228
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	327	1,310
Income from unconsolidated affiliates	(6,026)	(131)
Redemption premium	0	5,674
Gain on disposals of properties	(7,107)	(1,135)
Gain on sale of businesses	0	(54,759)
Impairment charges	0	2,568
Insurance proceeds - non-capital related	1,646	0
Deferred income tax expense	226	6,304
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired and sold:
Receivables	15,741	(155,103)
Inventories	(33,768)	(96,505)
Other assets	(8,574)	(9,335)
Current liabilities	(5,331)	85,523
Other liabilities	(7,399)	8,335
Other, net	(923)	(851)
Net cash provided by operating activities	516,912	181,481
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(29,555)	(25,547)
Insurance proceeds - capital related	3,354	0
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	(13,935)
Proceeds from sale of businesses, net of cash sold	0	74,250
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0	(1,613)
Payment received for notes receivable	0	8,539
Proceeds from sales of assets	7,841	2,124
Dividends from unconsolidated affiliates	2,091	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(16,269)	43,818
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(41,876)	(21,846)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	0	(9,722)
Repurchase of common stock	(38,054)	0
Payment of contingent consideration	0	(1,250)
Issuance of debt	0	475,000
Repayments of debt	(148)	(680,572)
Issuance (repayment) of debt by consolidated joint ventures, net	406	(4,865)
Net cash (used) received to settle stock-based awards	(1,619)	219
Debt issuance costs	0	(1,111)
Net cash used in financing activities	(81,291)	(244,147)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(10,310)	(377)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	409,042	(19,225)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the beginning of the period	90,376	127,376
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period	$ 499,418	$ 108,151