CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2023	Jun. 25, 2022	Jul. 01, 2023	Jun. 25, 2022
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 896,984	$ 1,150,042	$ 1,868,176	$ 2,160,044
Cost of goods sold	639,272	820,914	1,318,070	1,565,425
Depreciation and amortization	10,416	11,302	21,073	22,143
Selling, general, and administrative expense	56,062	48,956	108,693	96,412
Gain on sale of assets	0	0	0	(5,507)
Gain on insurance settlement	(19,466)	0	(19,466)	0
Operating income	210,700	268,870	439,806	481,571
Interest expense	(135)	(147)	(278)	(305)
Interest income	7,732	103	13,967	263
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	20,820	0	20,820	0
Other income, net	1,841	2,100	4,077	2,720
Income before income taxes	240,958	270,926	478,392	484,249
Income tax expense	(62,122)	(68,290)	(123,479)	(122,489)
Income (loss) from unconsolidated affiliates, net of foreign tax	715	4,888	(269)	5,012
Consolidated net income	179,551	207,524	354,644	366,772
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,840)	(972)	(3,694)	(1,904)
Net income attributable to Mueller Industries, Inc.	$ 177,711	$ 206,552	$ 350,950	$ 364,868
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share (in shares)	55,660	55,787	55,677	55,943
Effect of dilutive stock-based awards (in shares)	1,340	741	1,023	776
Adjusted weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share (in shares)	57,000	56,528	56,700	56,719
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.19	$ 3.70	$ 6.30	$ 6.52
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	3.12	3.65	6.19	6.43
Dividends per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.30	$ 0.25	$ 0.60	$ 0.50