CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 01, 2023	Mar. 26, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated net income	$ 175,093	$ 159,248
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	10,746	10,930
Stock-based compensation expense	5,637	2,573
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	(15)	125
Loss (income) from unconsolidated affiliates	984	(124)
Gain on disposals of properties	(115)	(5,507)
Deferred income tax expense	372	258
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(111,547)	(116,610)
Inventories	(581)	(40,803)
Other assets	(17,950)	314
Current liabilities	50,842	54,344
Other liabilities	(2,275)	(1,752)
Other, net	427	(137)
Net cash provided by operating activities	111,618	62,859
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(7,556)	(5,259)
Insurance proceeds - capital related	8,000	0
Proceeds from the maturity of short term investments	50,000	0
Proceeds from sales of assets	118	6,219
Dividends from unconsolidated affiliates	644	959
Net cash provided by investing activities	51,206	1,919
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(16,729)	0
Repurchase of common stock	0	(3,972)
Repayments of debt	(56)	(56)
Issuance of debt by consolidated joint ventures, net	297	0
Net cash used to settle stock-based awards	(2,611)	(230)
Net cash used in financing activities	(19,099)	(4,258)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,573	301
Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	146,298	60,821
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the beginning of the period	465,296	90,376
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period	$ 611,594	$ 151,197