CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2023	Jun. 25, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated net income	$ 354,644	$ 366,772
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	21,252	22,322
Stock-based compensation expense	12,459	5,171
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	(80)	151
Loss (income) from unconsolidated affiliates	269	(5,012)
Insurance proceeds - noncapital related	9,854	0
Gain on disposals of properties	(141)	(6,800)
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	20,820	0
Gain on insurance settlement	(19,466)	0
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	2,406	(373)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables	(77,701)	(146,438)
Inventories	(12,149)	(49,354)
Other assets	(5,571)	(6,095)
Current liabilities	(14,460)	28,906
Other liabilities	(976)	(4,283)
Other, net	1,310	(433)
Net cash provided by operating activities	250,830	204,534
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(29,221)	(23,248)
Insurance proceeds - capital related	24,646	0
Purchase of short-term investments	(106,231)	0
Proceeds from the maturity of short-term investments	217,863	0
Proceeds from sales of assets	142	7,561
Dividends from unconsolidated affiliates	797	1,609
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	107,996	(14,078)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(33,402)	(27,968)
Repurchase of common stock	(19,303)	(33,469)
Repayments of debt	(130)	(111)
(Repayment) issuance of debt by consolidated joint ventures, net	(143)	360
Net cash used to settle stock-based awards	(2,588)	(95)
Net cash used in financing activities	(55,566)	(61,283)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	4,825	(2,234)
Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	308,085	126,939
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	$ 773,381	$ 217,315