CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2023	Mar. 26, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 971,192	$ 1,010,002
Cost of goods sold	678,798	744,511
Depreciation and amortization	10,657	10,841
Selling, general, and administrative expense	52,631	47,456
Gain on sale of assets	0	(5,507)
Operating income	229,106	212,701
Interest expense	(143)	(158)
Interest income	6,235	160
Other income, net	2,236	620
Income before income taxes	237,434	213,323
Income tax expense	(61,357)	(54,199)
(Loss) income from unconsolidated affiliates, net of foreign tax	(984)	124
Consolidated net income	175,093	159,248
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,854)	(932)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 173,239	$ 158,316
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	55,693	56,100
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	707	810
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	56,400	56,910
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.11	$ 2.82
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	3.07	2.78
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.25