CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 25, 2021	Dec. 26, 2020
Operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 662,820	$ 475,124	$ 143,649
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	38,157	39,120	38,715
Amortization of intangibles	5,574	6,270	6,128
Amortization of debt issuance costs	357	265	319
(Income) loss from unconsolidated affiliates	(10,111)	157	10,219
Insurance proceeds - noncapital related	1,646	0	0
Redemption premium	0	5,674	0
Stock-based compensation expense	17,801	9,822	8,570
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	323	1,216	1,208
Non-cash pension plan termination expense	0	0	11,642
(Gain) loss on disposals of assets	(6,373)	(769)	132
Gain on sale of businesses	0	(57,760)	0
Impairment charges	0	2,829	3,771
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense	(3,880)	7,413	(4,046)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of businesses acquired and sold:
Receivables	82,713	(124,708)	(76,404)
Inventories	(24,189)	(119,514)	5,207
Other assets	(8,971)	919	20,609
Current liabilities	(26,633)	73,755	74,097
Other liabilities	(7,564)	(5,467)	(1,142)
Other, net	2,273	(2,645)	2,399
Net cash provided by operating activities	723,943	311,701	245,073
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash transferred	7,850	2,302	181
Purchase of short-term investments	(217,863)	0	0
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	(30,206)	(72,648)
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash sold	0	81,884	0
Capital expenditures	(37,639)	(31,833)	(43,885)
Payment received for (issuance of) notes receivable	0	8,539
Payment received for (issuance of) notes receivable			(9,270)
Insurance proceeds - capital related	3,354	0	0
Dividends from unconsolidated affiliates	2,295	0	0
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	0	(1,613)	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(242,003)	29,073	(125,622)
Financing activities:
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(55,787)	(29,137)	(22,341)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(7,248)	(9,722)	0
Issuance of long-term debt	0	595,000	190,038
Repayments of long-term debt	(204)	(920,610)	(246,898)
Issuance (repayment) of debt by consolidated joint ventures, net	67	(5,113)	(259)
Repurchase of common stock	(38,054)	(4,864)	(5,574)
Payment of contingent consideration	0	(1,250)	(7,000)
Net cash (used) received to settle stock-based awards	(1,429)	85	(230)
Debt issuance costs	0	(1,111)	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(102,655)	(376,722)	(92,264)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(4,365)	(1,052)	2,147
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	374,920	(37,000)	29,334
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the beginning of the year	90,376	127,376	98,042
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the year	$ 465,296	$ 90,376	$ 127,376